Masked men confiscate equipment of fishermen in Guiuan town

Guiuan (outlined in red) in Eastern Samar (Image from Google Maps)

TACLOBAN CITY — Residents of a fishing village in Guiuan town, Eastern Samar are asking for help after their fishing equipment was confiscated by a group of men who claimed to be members of the maritime police on August 25.

Mario Carisosa, Jr., a village councilor who was present during the incident, said he asked those men to identify themselves by writing their names on the log book, especially that they were not wearing their uniforms and covered their faces with bonnets.

He also asked the men to return their fishing gears which included spears and harpoons, and air compressors to the affected fishermen.

However, his appeal fell on deaf ears as the group of men took at least six compressors from the boats that were anchored at the shore.

Police Major Clark Chavarria, the town’s police chief, questioned the manner in which the men acted.

According to him, the unidentified men did not coordinate with his office as well as the local government and village officials.

“There was no coordination with our office or with the municipal government or even barangay officials which could raise some suspicions on the legitimacy of their operation which they claimed to be for boat inspection only,” Chavarria said.

Coordination, he said, is important among inter-government agencies to avoid any possible conflict.

Chavarria said the team did not present any confiscation receipt which is a requirement for them to file any possible legal action against the affected fishermen.

“They have committed some lapses in their operation. That was why I did not accept the confiscated items from them,” the town police chief said.

Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan appealed to authorities to conduct a probe on the incident.

“I was really upset when I learned about this ugly incident. They did not coordinate with my office nor informed our chief of police and even the barangay officials. The people there were traumatized seeing men, not in uniforms but clad in civilian cloth and wearing bonnets and with firearms,” she said.

Gonzales-Kwan said she will file administrative charges against the leader of the raiding team, only identified as Capt. Cabanganan, for verbally maligning her when she talked to him over the phone to inquire what happened and why they did not coordinate with her office.

“I called him but instead of giving me an explanation why they conducted their operation in Victory without coordinating the local government unit or the police, he shouted at me and cursed me,” she said.

The Inquirer tried to get the side of Cabanganan thru his social media account but has yet to receive any response.

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JPV