PCG: Personnel of Coast Guard Substation Pinamalayan apprehended one (1) fishing boat with three (3) crew onboard who were caught conducting illegal fishing at vicinity waters off Brgy. Misong, Pola Oriental Mindoro, yesterday, November 8.

According to the report, personnel of said Sub-station received a phone call from a concerned citizen informing that a group of unidentified fishing boats were sighted conducting an illegal fishing activity in the area.

The team immediately proceeded in the area and spotted the said group of illegal fishers. Upon seeing the Coast Guard, they immediately sped off enroute to Lucena City. Only one (1) boat was successfully apprehended by the PCG.

Upon boarding the boat, the team recovered three (3) pieces of improvised dynamite, two (2) Styrofoam coolers with fish (suspectedly caught thru blast fishing) and four (4) empty Styrofoam coolers.

The apprehended fishermen were all identified to be residents of Brgy. Dalahican, Ibaba, Lucena City and were named as follows:

• Alex Gutierrez, 44

• Andrei Estabaya Gutierrez, 15 and

• Romy Albunian Deocareza, 16

The PCG personnel coordinated with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for the examination and further verification if the fish was caught through dynamite fishing. Meanwhile, investigation is still on-going to determine the identity of the other boats and to file appropriate charges against the other suspects.