Illegal Fishers Arrested in Bantayan Town

Nine fishermen were arrested for illegal fishing in barangay Lipayran, Bantayan town at 4:00 o’ clock in the morning the other day.

The were Larry Marfa, 39, married, the boat captain, Herbert Enriquez, 41, machine operator, and crew members identified as Angelito Abrasaldo, 40, married, Alemar Sinugbuhan, 21, Jimmy Espinosa, 24, Allan Ornido Jr, 25, Rowel Lotrago, 22, Nestobon Espinosa, 24, Antonio Espinosa, 28, all residents of Sagay, Negros Occidental.

Based on the spot report of the Cebu City Police Office, the fishing boat F/B Glory of the Sea owned by Johnry Espinosa was spotted while entering the municipal waters in Bantayan town and illegally engaged on illegal fishing.

They were apprehended based on the existing municipal ordinance banning all commercial fishing boats that engaged on illegal fishing in the sea off Bantayan town.

The police team composed of PO2 Joel Illustrisimo, PO1 Florante Desucatan PO1 Villaceran, accompanied by an official of the Department of Agriculture assigned at the said municipality, arrested the group and confiscated their fishing boat.

Mora than 20 containers of assorted fishes worth P30,000, were confiscated by the authorities.

The arrested suspects are now detained at the detention cell of Bantayan Police Station awaiting for the proper charges to be filed against them.