Ilocos Sur fisherman dies in ‘blast fishing accident’

In this Jan. 13, 2016 file photo, fishermen in the Lingayen Gulf are seen by operatives of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources while hauling in their catch following a suspected blast fishing activity. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

DAGUPAN CITY — A fisherman died on Wednesday (March 1) when a home-made explosive device detonated before it could be hurled into the waters of San Juan town in Ilocos Sur province.

The explosion killed Gladlee Ford Vitamog, 31, who was on a bamboo raft about 100 meters off the shoreline of Surngit village at 12:40 p.m., police said. Vitamog appeared to have been blast fishing, an illegal activity, police said.  SFM/rga