Arrested fishers 'snap' at TF Snapper
Iloilo City -- Anti-illegal fishing campaign of the city under the Task Force Snapper is on the roll with successive big-time arrests in the past week. Yet in Friday's incident where a 17-man crew of one fishing boat was apprehended and some two tons in fish catch confiscated, complaints are now up against the group.
The complainant was Fishing Boat Captain Leodegario Cape of F/B Elmer 2 who came out and sought media's help in the plight of his arrested crew. Cape was also at a loss on what to do and where to go while calling for intervention in order to have their two tons of catch analyzed. The arrest was made amidst suspicion and eventually, supposed findings of the Task Force that F/B Elmer 2's catch were illegally done with the use of blast fishing method. One accusation that Cape strongly denies and offers to have each and every fish on board to be cut open and verified for any dynamite or explosive traces.
In an interview, Cape told The News Today (TNT) that he is willing to cooperate with government agents or even private groups if only to clear his men from illegal fishing charge. Nine of the 17 crewmen remain in police custody. The others were out swimming when the arresting team came.
F/B Elmer 2 was out at sea for 30 days, shorter than their usual trips due to big waves encountered and not enough food supplies for the crew on board. Cape said he has been in this business for over 38 years and swears not to have engaged in illegal fishing so much so dynamite fishing.
An effort was made to unload the two tons of fish Friday evening yet Cape appealed to the Task Force representatives to wait for daybreak since he will still seek legal help. His first recourse was to call on media's assistance while asking for intervention of officials back in their hometown in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.
"Gapangayo gid ako sang bulig nga kung sin-o diri ang makakuha sang sample agud ipalantaw kung bala paagi sa lupok ini ang mga isda namon. Puro lang iya taga kag nylon ang gamit namon kag tapos pagdakop sa amon, ginsiling na dayon nga tanan positive sa lupok. Maluoy man sila sa amon. Isa ka bulan nga pangisda amon sini. Bisan tanan nga isda diri hiwaon agud gid lang mapakita namon nga indi ni pinaagi sa lupok. Sin-o abi ang puede nga makabulig sini sa amon? (I appeal to anybody who can help us and get sample of our catch to have it examined if indeed it was caught thru blasting. All we used are hooks and nylon nets and now they accused us and say that all are positive of blasting. Have pity on us. We have been at sea fishing for a month now. Even if they cut open every fish we have so we can disprove them. Who can please help us?)," the visibly distraught 58 year-old fisherman said.