Laguna cops launch campaign vs illegal fishing

CALAUAN, Laguna—The Laguna police took its campaign against criminality from land to inland waters with the launch of an anti-illegal fishing operation in Laguna de Bay and other water tributaries in the province.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, said they had so far arrested 11 persons suspected of illegal fishing in Laguna Lake and seized five fishing boats, fishing rods and headlights late last week in the vicinity of Pangil town.

The campaign, dubbed Oplan  “Sutokil,” was officially launched during a press briefing here Tuesday. Sutokil is a term that stands for the popular cooking techniques sugba (to roast), tinola (stew) and kilawin (to cook in vinegar).

Cruz said the campaign is meant to implement Republic Act No. 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, specifically on the use of fine mesh nets locally called “skylab.”

“The problem is when they use these type of nets, even the fries and fingerlings are caught. The nets also tend to disturb underwater marine life,” Cruz said.

He said police received reports of rampant use of fine mesh nets in the lakeshore villages of Pangil, Pakil, Cabuyao and Santa Rosa City by fishermen from Rizal province and Metro Manila who usually operate at dawn.

He said it has been routine for police to catch criminals but rarely illegal fishermen.

“We just feel responsible, too,” Cruz said of the police role in environment protection.

Prior to making arrests, Cruz said policemen were given lectures on the Fisheries Act by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on May 29.