BY MAI LADIAO
ANTIQUE – Thirteen individuals were recently apprehended in Antique Province for illegal fishing.
The Sebaste Municipal Police Station (MPS), in collaboration with the Bantay Dagat and Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), nabbed two individuals in Barangay Idio, Sebaste, Antique.
Jeremie Importante, 40, boat captain, and John Michael Arnaiz, 29, motorman, both residents of Barangay San Isidro, Tibiao, Antique were arrested at around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 22.
Seized during the operation were 40 kilograms of fish with an estimated market value of P4,000, along with a fishing boat, gear, and nets with an estimated value of P300,000.
Earlier on Feb. 20, the Anini-y MPS and Anini-y MAO collared 11 individuals in Barangay Lisub-B, Anini-y, Antique.
Boat captain Ronilo Baya, 31, of Barangay Talisayan, Anini-y, and his 10 crew members were caught engaging in illegal fishing.
Fishing vessel with paraphernalia worth P800,000 were seized, and more or less 175 kilos of Tulingan fish, locally known as “aloy,” with an estimated market value of P17,500, were recovered.
The apprehended individuals, along with the confiscated evidence, were placed under police custody for documentation before transfer to the respective MAOs for appropriate disposition./PN
