SEVEN people were arrested by the Cadiz City police, which also recovered almost P75,000 worth of fish believed to be caught illegally through dynamite fishing.
The police reported that the fish recovered are sardines, locally known as "Tuloy," which are suspected to have been fished using dynamite.
They identified the arrested individuals as Arman Ardeza, Erwin Gumboc, Elmer Briones, Hendreson Estoya, Renald Pechera, Aladino Ofril, and Danilo Polines Jr.
Cadiz City Police Chief Robert Mansueto said they were conducting a checkpoint in Barangay Tinampa-an when they flagged down two mini trucks.
Cops later became suspicious when the seven suspects failed to present their permits to transport the fish, prompting them to invite them to the police station for further questioning.
Members of the City Agriculturist later arrived to examine the catch. They determined that the sardines the suspect were transporting have been "blasted."
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, meanwhile, said they have been receiving reports of rampant dynamite fishing off the coast of Cadiz.
Escalante believes the seven arrested suspects are "small players" and they have "financiers" backing them.
He added that fish is abundant in the city since their area, facing the Visayan Sea, is mostly secluded from the Southwest Monsoon.
All seven are facing charges of violating the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 and are presently detained at the Cadiz City Police Station.