Seven fishing boats were apprehended in separate seaborne operations in the towns of Concepcion and San Dionisio for allegedly engaging in prohibited fishing activities, the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force reported.
The operations, conducted on Aug. 22 and 23, resulted in the confiscation of fishing boats, nets and other fishing paraphernalia, as well as catches of assorted fish.
In Concepcion, joint elements of the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force, the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company and Regional Intelligence Unit 6 apprehended three fishing boats off Tago Island in Barangay Poblacion on the evening of Aug. 23.
The team was led by PCMS Ariel Palmera under the supervision of PLtCol. Neil E. Gumana, force commander of the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company.
Authorities identified the boats as F/B Megan, piloted by 21-year-old Prince Michael Asturias Gargar; F/B Isay, piloted by 22-year-old Jvan Dyke Alerta Sabia; and F/B Odang, piloted by 50-year-old Rando Ardison Ocido.
All three boat operators are residents of Concepcion.
The Bantay Dagat team said the boats and their crews were caught allegedly engaging in round haul seine fishing, locally known as “baling,” in the waters off Tago Island.
F/B Megan was apprehended at around 7 p.m., while F/B Isay and F/B Odang were intercepted at around 7:15 p.m.
The patrol team approached the fishermen, identified themselves as authorities and ordered the crews to stop fishing and haul their nets.
According to the report, each boat was equipped with two 12-horsepower engines and a round haul seine fishing net with sinkers and floaters, along with other equipment. Each also carried a tub of anchovies locally known as “lobo-lobo.”
Authorities placed the estimated value of the three boats at P100,000 each, or P300,000 in all. The fishing paraphernalia were valued at P70,000 per boat, for a total of P210,000.
The report also listed three kilos of assorted fish valued at P15,000, which authorities said would be turned over to a government hospital and charitable institution.
The arrested fishermen were informed of the reason for their arrest and their rights under the Miranda Doctrine and Anti-Torture Law in a dialect they understood, police said.
They were temporarily detained at the Concepcion Municipal Police Station pending the filing of appropriate charges. The confiscated boats and fishing equipment remained in the custody of the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force.
Two days earlier, four fishing boats were apprehended in the waters off Barangay Agdaliran, San Dionisio for allegedly engaging in trawl fishing.
The same joint team was conducting a seaborne patrol when it intercepted the boats between 12:15 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 22.
The operators were identified as Marvin Padios Torlola, 60; Reynate Padios Tortola, 50; Warren Bores Arbis, 29, who was operating F/B Liam; and Arnel Garing Morales, 49.
All four are residents of Barangay Odiongan, San Dionisio.
Authorities said the fishermen and their crews were caught actually engaged in trawl fishing. The patrol team ordered them to stop and retrieve their fishing nets before the boats and fishing gear were taken into custody.
The four fishing boats were valued at P80,000 each, or a combined P320,000, while the confiscated fishing paraphernalia were valued at P80,000.
About 10 kilos of assorted fish valued at P5,000 were also confiscated and were to be donated to a government hospital and charitable institution.
The fishermen were informed of their constitutional rights in a dialect they understood.
Unlike those arrested in the Concepcion operation, the fishermen apprehended in San Dionisio were to have their boats and fishing equipment released after payment of the compromise fines prescribed by the local government unit, according to the report.
Taken together, the two operations resulted in the apprehension of seven fishing boats and the seizure of boats and fishing equipment with a reported estimated value of at least P910,000, excluding the confiscated catch.