TWO men were caught for illegal fishing on Monday, April 2, in the seawaters off Barangay Bonbon, Oslob.
Mendel Manzo Lopez, 21, and Jerel Tabal Lobedila, 36, were arrested by personnel of the town police, Bantay Dagat and Regional Mobile Force Battalion-Central Visayas led by Senior Inspector Clemente Ceralde Jr.
The suspects are from Barangay Tambongon, San Remigio, northern Cebu. Seized from them were a fishing net, an active fishing gear, and five kilos of sword fish. Also seized were the boat and two big flashlights.
Lopez and Lobedila were charged with violation of the municipal ordinance that bans fishing by non-Oslob fishermen.
Republic Act 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, also prohibits unauthorized fishing or fishing without a permit in municipal waters and fishing with the use of active fishing gear in the municipal waters.
Under the law, active fishing gear is banned as it also catches smaller fish. (KAL/SunStar Cebu)