LUCENA CITY –– Three fishermen allegedly engaged in cyanide fishing were arrested in the island town of Patnanungan in Quezon province Friday morning.
Police identified the suspects as Clifford Aldon, Etchon Mundo, and Louie Penaranda, all residents of Barangay Norte.
Combined police and personnel of the municipal agriculture office arrested the suspects while fishing using sodium cyanide in the water of the said town around 10:40 a.m.
Authorities seized the motorized fishing boat being used by the suspects, assorted live fish, and a plastic bottle containing sodium cyanide.
Cyanide fishing stun and capture live reef fish for high-end restaurants, but kills the coral reefs in the process.
The suspects were arrested for violation of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 as amended by Republic Act 10654.