PRO 6 mulls new task force against illegal fishing

By Erly C. Garcia

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO 6) is contemplating of creating its own task force against illegal fishing. This, after the series of complaints hurled against the Provincial Task Force on Illegal Fishing (PTFIF) headed by Insp. Leroy Rapiz.

The PTFIF was created by Gov. Niel Tupas, Sr. as part of its campaign to curb illegal fishing in the province of Iloilo.

Recently, four fishing boat operators wrote PRO 6 regional director Chief Supt. Doroteo Reyes II complaining about the alleged abuse of authority committed by Rapiz and his men.

Angeles Solis, Andreo Bargo, Daymar Fuentes, and Richard Carvajal all of Pilar, Capiz alleged that they were apprehended by Rapiz on May 5 although they were off the seawaters of Pilar.

They claimed that their arrest was in violation of the Local Government Code which provides for the distinct jurisdiction among separate local government units.

Their fishing boats namely, F/B Mary Ann, F/B SB and F/B Nonoy Pat were allegedly impounded at Carles PNP although they were apprehended off Pilar's seawaters.

They said they have reported the incident to the Pilar police station.

The complainants also claimed that Rapiz and his men carted away the floating markers which serve as demarcation line for the boundary of Carles and Pilar seawaters.

Further, the complaining fishing operators alleged that Rapiz is favoring fishermen from Cebu and other big fishing operators by allowing them entry to seawaters of Carles.

They alleged Rapiz is getting money from the said big operators every 15 th and 30 th of the month. They, however, failed to elaborate on the exact amount of the alleged payola.

Rapiz, meanwhile, dismissed all the complainants' allegations as mere lies.

He said the complainants were apprehended off the seawaters of Carles and they can be sure of that because they are equipped with a global positioning system and a map.

“You cannot escape or lie with the global positioning system because wherever you are it can locate you,” said Rapiz.

Rapiz also denied receiving payola from big fishing operators. He said the apprehended operators only made the allegations in order to discredit him.

“With me in the provincial illegal fishing task force, they can no longer execute their illegal activities that's why they hate me,” Rapiz told The News Today by phone.

He said he would be seeking the assistance of his lawyer to file perjury charges against the four fishing operators even as he said that they were already charged of violating the Fisheries Code for illegal fishing.

Meanwhile, Reyes tasked the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division to conduct an investigation on the allegations made by the fishing operators against Rapiz. (With reports from Double R of RMN 774 Iloilo)