CAMP GENERAL ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan – A total of 21 individuals were arrested by Bulacan police for illegal fishing in the coastal areas of Bulakan, Paombong, and Obando on Tuesday (Feb. 16).
Colonel Lawrence B. Cajipe, Bulacan police director, identified the arrested suspects in the coastal area of Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Paombong as Ryan Papa, Jhon Aries Burgos, Whelinder Salamat, Wilson San Diego, Mario Polita, and Tomas Calicia Jr., all residents of Brgy. Binuangan, Obando, Bulacan.
Cajipe said that the suspects were arrested by Paombong police together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) while in the act of illegal fishing onboard a separate motorboat using a motorized net (trawl). Confiscated from them were seven fish tubs containing approximately 18 kilos of “dulong” fish with an estimated amount of P14, 000. The seized pieces of evidence were turned over to the Bulacan BFAR.
Meanwhile, in a joint illegal fishing operation of Obando police and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council, six persons were arrested in Brgy. Salambao on Tuesday evening.
The suspects were identified as Crisostomo Tolentino, Rommel Cabral, Christopher Lintag, Armando Lintag, Christian Santos (all from Brgy. Sta. Elena, Hagonoy), and Raymond Regalado of San Pablo, Hagonoy, Bulacan. Seized were three units of motorized fishing boats, three sets of fine mesh fishnets, and fish tubs containing approximately 40 kilograms of “kabasi” fish, with an estimated value of P2,000.
In the marine protected area of Bulakan, nine fishermen were nabbed by Bulakan police at around 3:30 a.m Tuesday as they failed to present any fishing permit. They were identified as Aghamin Marquez, Elias Guevarra, Aaron Marquez alias "Gaga," Anghelo Pagtalunan alias "Bunso," Mark Joseph Ocampo alias "Puroy," Jonas Paul Guevarra, Michael Dalista alias "Potong," Angelito Escanilla, and Francisco Guevarra alias "Kokoy," all from Brgy. Tibig, Bulakan. Confiscated from them were four motor boats.