MARIVELES, Bataan- Illegal fishers never learned despite the apprehensions of a number of illegal fishermen and the confiscation of their boats and gadgets.
This was the observation of local newsmen based here with the latest apprehension of 11 illegal fishermen off the waters of Biaan, this town recently.
Supt. Melecio “Bong” Buslig, police chief here, reported that his policemen led by PO2 Reynald Tugade and members of Bantay Dagat assigned at Camaya coast Brgy Biaan Mariveles, Bataan cunducted operations against illegal fishing at Sitio Laki Brgy Biaan Marveles Bataan that resulted to the apprehension of one fishing boat “Pahulbot Alex Sopia” while conducting illegal fishing approximately three kilometers from the seashore line.
Col. Buslig said the Pahulbot was skippered by Ramonchito Manzano, residing at zone 6 Brgy Camaya Marveles Bataan with 10 crews on board when they were chanced upon by the police using illegal fish net and fishing gadget .
The illegal fishers, Buslig said, were caught in the act of fishing illegally and confiscated from them 20 boxs(banyera) half-filled containing asorted fish.
Manzano and his crew, together with their illegally-caught fish, were brought at Mariveles PNP station and appropriate charges for Violation of section 89 (fine mesh net) and section 90 (active fishng gear) of the RA 8550 is now being prepared by the Mariveles police against the boat captain and owner of the fishng boat Charlie Alejandro.
Bent on protecting the fishing ground of Bataan, Gov. Abet S. Garcia, has earlier directed Sr. Supt. Audie Atienza, police director, to continue without let up their campaign against illegal fishing “no matter whose toes they step on.”
The police’s campaign against illegal fishing has resulted to the confiscation of a number of fishing boats that were impounded and apprehension of suspected illegal fishers.
But they never learned.
