Monday, July 31, 2006
10 fishers netted off town’s coast
TEN men were arrested Saturday night for illegal fishing off the waters of Santander, Cebu.
The police and the town’s Bantay Dagat Commission impounded marine vessel RB 11 and detained the 10 crewmembers, who were fishing 1.6 kilometers away from the municipal shoreline at 10 p.m.
Under the law, commercial fishing is not allowed in municipal waters, which cover 15 kilometers from the shoreline.
PO1 Glenn Flores, in a telephone interview, said the crew initially tried to steer the boat towards Oriental Negros, but they convinced them to dock at the wharf in Barangay Liloan.
In custody
Arrested were boat captain Jerry Mariano, 44, and his cousin, chief engineer Errol Mariano, 57, both of Sta. Catalina, Oriental Negros.
Also detained at the Santander Police Station are Nenito Sarita, 41; Ronald Acumabig, 37; Buddy Abanac, 41; Marwin Mariano, 31; Victor Celeste, 26; Marlon Glenn Mariano, 25; Vincent Bartosa, 36; and Limuel Saberon, 22.
Flores said the Bantay Dagat Commission conducts sea patrols even at night, which is why they caught the fishers in the act of lowering their net.
Police approached the boat after Bantay Dagat reported the incident.
None of the crew was able to present papers authorizing them to fish in the town’s waters.
While onboard, the boat captain reportedly wanted to go back to Oriental Negros.
Flores said his colleagues convinced the captain to steer towards Santander.
The boat is now docked at the Liloan Wharf. (MEA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 31, 2006 issue)
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