26 Negros fisherman nabbed in Ajuy
Twenty six fishermen from Negros Occidental were apprehended in Ajuy town, Iloilo for illegal fishing, in two separate occasions.
Combined operatives of Ajuy Police Station and the Bantay Dagat first arrested 14 persons, including two minors, in Punta Buri, Ajuy at around 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The suspects, who were on board seven fishing boats, were identified as Michael Meneses, 25, and Noel Babaran, 36, both of Brgy. Tabuc Suba, Cauayan town; Romulo Antonio, 29, Louie Canabal, 29, Leo Maglasang, 22, Reynaldo Cayano, Manuel Balinas, 41, Waldo Adlong, 23, and Ronnie Estel, 39, all of Brgy. 6-A Victorias City; Judy Selvento, 57, of Brgy. Galicia, Ilog,; Jolito Garcia, 22, of Guiljungan, Cauayan; and Raymond Mendeceles, 28, of Brgy. Romirang, Isabela.
The two minors were 15 and 16 year-olds.
For the same violation, 12 fishermen were arrested at around 5:30 a.m. yesterday at Brgy. Bay-ang, Ajuy.
They were identified as Manuel Zarraga, 45, Jimmy Agtoto, 27, Jojo Buenavista, 29, and Johnny Roa, 22, all of Brgy. 6-A, Victorias City; Judy Ann Servente, 25, and Dexter Del Monte, 20, of Cauayan town; and Joven Arellado, 35, Mello Bellas, 32, Reynaldo dela Cruz, 32, Danilo Arellado, 39, Diogenes Avila, 26, and Salvador Crucino, 40, all of Brgy. 2-A, Manapla town.
Ajuy police chief, Senior Insp. Ariel Artillero, said they conducted the earlier operation upon a tip of the fishermen’s activity in the areas of Punta Buri, Tagubanhan, and Buslugan.
One of the fishermen, Magsalang, claimed they were forced to encroach the waters of Iloilo because they caught nothing back home.
It was already Magsalang’s third arrest for the same violation.
In the past, Artillero said the fishermen entered into a compromise agreement, and were fined P5,000.
But authorities noticed that the suspects just paid the fine and continued their illegal fishing activities.
The fine was later raised to P10,000 but the same thing happened, Artillero said.
Presently, the fine is set at P15,000 per fisherman, aside from the confiscation of fishing gears.
The 24 suspects are detained at Ajuy Police Station as of press time.
The two minors were placed under the custody of the local social welfare office.*
