Police seize 2 commercial vessels in Sorsogon for illegal fishing

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Police operatives seized on Thursday two commercial fishing vessels while  fishing inside the prohibited  15-kilometer municipal water off Barangay (village) Sapa, Pilar town in Sorsogon, an official of the  Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol said.

Seized by a patrolling team from the PNP Provincial Public Safety Command (PPSC) were two purse seine fishing vessels, locally known as pangulong, that were marked “Alheus” and “Princess Gina Luis,” both owned by Joselito Alega of Lucena City, said Chief Supt. Victor Deona, PNP regional director.

Deona said the PPSC operatives also arrested the boat captains, identified as Arnulfo Arlaza and George Otinez, and 41 crew members.  They were currently detained at the Pilar police station for inquest proceedings.

The PPSC also confiscated 1,000 chest coolers containing assorted fish catch from the two seized vessels, he said.

Deona said the two boat captains and their crew would be charged with illegal fishing.

Deona said that the country’s fishery laws have prohibited pangulong sea vessels, each weighing 10 tons, from catching fish inside the 15-kilometer municipal waters.  Only small fishing vessels weighing three tons are allowed to fish in municipal waters. SM