STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR – Eleven (11) fishermen in 7 motorboats were caught redhandedly conducting prohibited trawl fishing along the territorial seawaters of this municipality early dawn of January 04, 2018.
The joint elements of the Municipal Police Station, the Municipal Agriculture Office and Bantay Dagat, during the conduct of their routinary seaborne patrol operation trapped 11 fishermen severally aboard 7 motorboats but simultaneously in the act of fishing with the use of a dragnet, locally known as “baby trawl” along the municipal seawaters of Sta. Margarita.
Nine (9) of the fishermen arrested, separately owning 5 of the motorboats, are residents of the municipality of Tarangnan while the two (2) others who respectively own motorboats are from Sta. Margarita.
“Activities of the seaborne patrol is routinary for purposes of monitoring fishing activities in the municipal waters of Sta. Margarita particularly so when we need to validate reports about ‘illegal methods’ being used by fishermen,” Police Senior Inspector Zaldy A. Cagampang told Calbayog Journal in an interview.
Cagampang who took office as Officer-in-Charge – Chief of Police (OIC-COP) of Sta. Margarita Municipal Police Station (MPS) only in October 23, 2017 added information that the arrests recently made confirmed reports that most of the fishermen conducting fishing activities along the municipal seawaters are not from the municipality but from nearby towns.
“Since I took charge, the MPS has been periodically fed of information about the presence of illegal fishers but who are not from the municipality – that is why we have to regularly conduct seaborne patrol operations to monitor and validate reports,” the OIC-COP said.
The joint elements of the Municipal Police Station, the Municipal Agriculture Office and Bantay Dagat, during the conduct of their routinary seaborne patrol operation trapped 11 fishermen severally aboard 7 motorboats but simultaneously in the act of fishing with the use of a dragnet, locally known as “baby trawl” along the municipal seawaters of Sta. Margarita.
Nine (9) of the fishermen arrested, separately owning 5 of the motorboats, are residents of the municipality of Tarangnan while the two (2) others who respectively own motorboats are from Sta. Margarita.
“Activities of the seaborne patrol is routinary for purposes of monitoring fishing activities in the municipal waters of Sta. Margarita particularly so when we need to validate reports about ‘illegal methods’ being used by fishermen,” Police Senior Inspector Zaldy A. Cagampang told Calbayog Journal in an interview.
Cagampang who took office as Officer-in-Charge – Chief of Police (OIC-COP) of Sta. Margarita Municipal Police Station (MPS) only in October 23, 2017 added information that the arrests recently made confirmed reports that most of the fishermen conducting fishing activities along the municipal seawaters are not from the municipality but from nearby towns.
“Since I took charge, the MPS has been periodically fed of information about the presence of illegal fishers but who are not from the municipality – that is why we have to regularly conduct seaborne patrol operations to monitor and validate reports,” the OIC-COP said.
Arrested and booked with respective motorboats and fishing gears are as follow:
-JOHNJOHN DELA CRUZ of Barangay Burabod, Sta. Margarita, Samar – one motorboat (colored blue/red) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-PETER ILUSORIO of Barangay Burabod, Sta. Margarita, Samar – one motor boat (colored blue/white) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-JEROME ALMOJELA and JAIME ESTRERA of Barangay Westi, Tarangnan, Samar – one motorboat (colored green/blue) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-JAY-AR CAÑESO of Barangay Libucan Dako, Tarangnan, Samar – one motor boat (colored green/yellow) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-NONILON CALIMUTAN and JORLY JALAYAJAY of Barangay Westi, Tarangnan, Samar – one motorboat (colored white/green/yellow) with motor engine marked “Kama” 10 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-DENNIS SILAO and TONY ESTRERA of Barangay Westi, Tarangnan, Samar – one motor boat (colored white/blue) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-ARMAN DUMAPAK and ANTHONY DUMAPAK of Barangay Westi, Tarangnan, Samar – one motor boat (colored white/green/yellow) with motor engine marked “Kama” 10 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-JOHNJOHN DELA CRUZ of Barangay Burabod, Sta. Margarita, Samar – one motorboat (colored blue/red) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-PETER ILUSORIO of Barangay Burabod, Sta. Margarita, Samar – one motor boat (colored blue/white) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-JEROME ALMOJELA and JAIME ESTRERA of Barangay Westi, Tarangnan, Samar – one motorboat (colored green/blue) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-JAY-AR CAÑESO of Barangay Libucan Dako, Tarangnan, Samar – one motor boat (colored green/yellow) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-NONILON CALIMUTAN and JORLY JALAYAJAY of Barangay Westi, Tarangnan, Samar – one motorboat (colored white/green/yellow) with motor engine marked “Kama” 10 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-DENNIS SILAO and TONY ESTRERA of Barangay Westi, Tarangnan, Samar – one motor boat (colored white/blue) with motor engine marked “Kama” 12 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
-ARMAN DUMAPAK and ANTHONY DUMAPAK of Barangay Westi, Tarangnan, Samar – one motor boat (colored white/green/yellow) with motor engine marked “Kama” 10 HP; one fishing net with pair of board; one plastic container; rope; and assorted fish.
“Pursuant to Municipal Ordinance No. 2006-214 entitled ‘A Comprehensive Municipal Ordinance Providing for the Sustainable Management, Development and Conservation of Sta. Margarita Municipal Waters and Its Coastal Resources, Harmonizing and Integrating All Ordinances Pertinent Thereto and For Other Purposes,’ the arrested fishermen were made to pay to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office the amount of Php2,500.00 each with corresponding official receipts issued, in terms of penalties for first offenders as prescribed in Section 21 of the Municipal Ordinance for first offense,” P/SInspector Cagampang informed.
The fishermen and their respective fishing gears earlier confiscated during the arrest were released from the custody of the police with stern warning that higher penalties or even imprisonment and the total confiscation of fishing gears and implements will be imposed if again caught in the same illegal trade. The fishcatch, on the other hand, were distributed to the provincial and district jails as prescribed by law.
“The team and I gave the fishermen some kind of lecture on why they were arrested and what they should do to avoid further arrests for violations by explaining to them that the method they are currently using is destructive to our marine sanctuaries thus defined by law as illegal,” Cagampang said.
The OIC Chief, in conclusion of the interview, stated that, “the apprehensions of illegal fishers today is not only the accomplishment of the joint elements that conducted the operation but it is a triumph of Magsohongnons as the operation would have not been made were it not for the participation and cooperation of the community – its residents and village officials – along the coastal areas of the Municipality of Sta. Margarita.”(CJ)
The fishermen and their respective fishing gears earlier confiscated during the arrest were released from the custody of the police with stern warning that higher penalties or even imprisonment and the total confiscation of fishing gears and implements will be imposed if again caught in the same illegal trade. The fishcatch, on the other hand, were distributed to the provincial and district jails as prescribed by law.
“The team and I gave the fishermen some kind of lecture on why they were arrested and what they should do to avoid further arrests for violations by explaining to them that the method they are currently using is destructive to our marine sanctuaries thus defined by law as illegal,” Cagampang said.
The OIC Chief, in conclusion of the interview, stated that, “the apprehensions of illegal fishers today is not only the accomplishment of the joint elements that conducted the operation but it is a triumph of Magsohongnons as the operation would have not been made were it not for the participation and cooperation of the community – its residents and village officials – along the coastal areas of the Municipality of Sta. Margarita.”(CJ)
