Fishing firms want BFAR, NTC cited for contempt for defying court order

MANILA, Philippines — Commerical fishing firms want the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) cited for contempt for allegedly disobeying a court order prohibiting the implementation of vessel monitoring measures and an electronic reporting system for commercial Philippine-flagged fishing vessels.

The 12-page petition for indirect contempt was filed at the Malabon City Regional Trial Court by NFH Corp. and Adruth Fish Dealer, represented by company officials Frederick Uy and Ruth Dimaiwat, respectively,

Among the respondents are BFAR Director Eduardo B. Gongona.

Previously, the Malabon RTC issued a permanent injunction stopping the BFAR and related agencies from implementing Fisheries Administrative Order No. 266-2020, which amended FAO 260-2018.

The order required the installation of VMS-100 transceivers in all commercial fishing vessels operating in domestic waters, in the high seas, and other distant waters.

The order was said to have been issued to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Malabon City RTC then issued a permanent injunction against it for being unconstitutional.

However, the contempt petitioners accused Gongona of refusing to obey the injunction.

ATM