‘Go after erring drivers, illegal fishers’
Alarmed by the increasing number of vehicular accidents in the province, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor directed the Iloilo Police Provincial Office to strictly implement traffic rules and regulations on national highways.
The IPPO has recorded 468 incidents from January to June this year.
Senior Supt. Renato Gumban, IPPO officer-in-charge, said he has already instructed all chiefs of police in the province to arrest drivers violating the traffic rules particularly driving without license, without helmet for motorcycle-riders, and overloading of passengers.
Gumban met with Defensor during a courtesy call at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol early this week.
Moreover, Defensor also instructed Gumban to conduct an all-out operation against illegal fishing, particularly in northern Iloilo.
Gumban said they are closely monitoring municipalities located along the coastal areas.
In the first quarter of 2010, the IPPO arrested 158 illegal fishers and impounded 60 fishing boats from 29 operations.
So far, only one case has been filed.
Last year, 993 fishermen were arrested and 371 fishing boats were impounded from 207 operations. Forty-five cases were filed in court.
Those arrested mostly used fishing gears prohibited under the Fisheries Code.
