ILOILO – Seven persons were arrested in two separate police operations in the waters of Barangay Manipolon, Estancia town in northern Iloilo yesterday for illegal fishing.
The following were detained by the police at the municipal police station:
* Christian Boy Arizala, 24, boat captain of M/B Mikay
* Joseph Delos Reyes, 28
* Christian Villanueva, 23
* Jonathan Genobia, 34
All were residents of Barangay Pa-on, Estancia.
From the other fishing boat, M/B FJSand, the following were caught:
* Ruel Arisgado, 28, boat captain
* Wilson Blanker, 28
* Arnie Dela Rosa, 33
They were also from Barangay Pa-on.
The suspects were arrested around 7 a.m. They were using the prohibited fine mesh nets.
The police impounded the two boats at the Estancia police station.
Just last month, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 director Remia Aparri urged local government units in northern Iloilo to sustain the campaign against illegal fishing.
Citing recent intelligence reports, Aparri said those engaged in illegal fishing in northern Iloilo were residents of coastal municipalities themselves.
That’s because fishing is the residents’ main livelihood, she explained.
Previously, apprehended illegal fishers turned out to be residents of other provinces such as Negros Occidental, Masbate and even Cebu.
“The keys to an effective campaign against illegal fishing are the local governments themselves. They know what is happening in their waters,” said Aparri./PN
