12 people arrested for illegal fishing

COMBINED government forces have seized a fishing boat and arrested its 12 crew for violation of the country’s fishery law, a top police official said Thursday.

Arrested were Banoy Pareño, the fishing boat’s chief mechanic, and crew namely: Idjun Urot, Roger Bituin, Benie Herera, Totoh Dela Cruz, Tottot Omar, Ringgoy Asnawi, Dodong Suan, Dodong Flores, Sonny Gomez, Jing Yunus, and Plong Delos Reyes.

Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, Zamboanga City police officer-in-charge, said the suspects were arrested around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday within the fishing ground of Bolong village.

The fishermen were arrested after it was discovered that the fishing boat is operating with expired motor vessel operator’s license and expired permit to operate.

The fishing boat is registered in the name of Kaizer Taman, a resident of Sangali village, De Ocampo said.

The arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of the fishing boat came after Bolong village chief Antonio Envagelista reported to the Police Station 3 that a fishing boat was on fishing venture within the area reserved for marginal fishermen, De Ocampo said. (Bong Garcia)