By Jennifer P. Rendon
Six persons were nabbed in three separate anti-illegal fishing operations early morning of April 12, 2023 in Ajuy, Iloilo.
Police identified the suspects as Rodolfo dela Vega, 48; Joeven Robles, 33; John Leo Zamora, 30; Erick Basa, 47; Naren Basa, 32, all are residents of Barangay Culasi, Ajuy.
Also arrested was Ruen Cacho, 31, of Barangay, Luca, Ajuy.
Members of Ajuy Municipal Police Station, together with the Municipal Bantay Dagat Task Force, apprehended the suspects during a seaborne patrol that started out evening of April 11.
Dela Vega and Robles were arrested shortly after midnight Wednesday in the seawaters of Ajuy, around 1 kilometer from the Culasi shoreline.
The duo was caught allegedly using siklob, a mechanized fishing gear usually used in Northern Iloilo.
Meanwhile, Zamora and Cacho were arrested for engaging in trawl fishing.
Erick and Naren Basa were also caught using siklob.
Lieutenant General Enrique Robles, Ajuy police chief, said the suspects all violated Municipal Ordinance No. 2006-28.
“We deemed there are a good number of fishermen engaging in illegal fishing in Ajuy. But we couldn’t say that it’s rampant,” he said.
Most of them are into the use of unauthorized fishing gear like fine mesh nets.
Some fishermen were also caught for unrenewed fishing vessels and unlicensed fishing activities.
“Most of them knew that what they’re doing is illegal, but they still do it,” he said.
Robles said operations will continue to arrest illegal fishers.
