Tupas, police to look into mayor's 'grip' on illegal fishing
Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. and provincial police director, Sr. Supt. Melvin Mongcal said Tuesday that they will confer with Carles town mayor Arnold Betita over allegations that he is protecting illegal fishers.
Betita, on the other hand, has reportedly dared Tupas to show proof of his involvement.
Tupas said that they have received text messages saying that trawl fishers have been sighted in the waters of Carles since Betita assumed office as mayor.
"The senders (of the text messages) wondered why big vessels from other places suddenly appeared and have been doing drag fishing when he became mayor," the governor quoted the tip he received.
"Anyway, we will invite him over and ask him if these allegations are true," Tupas said, adding that "these are all allegations. We will verify them first."
Small-scale illegal fishing has also been monitored in the waters off the coast of towns in the province's fifth district. But in Carles, Tupas noted, big vessels equipped for trawl fishing from Bantayan Island made a come back. These vessels should be fishing in deep waters, but since they have no catch there, they venture into shallow waters near the coast, the governor explained.
Carles, the province's northernmost town, lies nearest the Visayan Sea, a rich fishing ground.
Mongcal clarified that what they have are mere allegations of Betita's involvement.
"Being allegations, we will still confirm these. We will know the veracity of these once we have talked to Mayor Betita. As of now, these are just allegations," Mongcal said.
Mongcal also said that they will invite the owners of fishing vessels and gears classified as illegal.
"They themselves are the protectors of illegal fishing because they have a business to protect," he pointed out.