PCG: 29 fishermen from Occidental Mindoro were apprehended by the Philippine Coast Guard and the local police in Palawan last Friday, September 5, for illegal fishing activities at the vicinity waters of Agutaya where a Municipal Ordinance bar transient fishermen from fishing at the said area.

The suspects were found by the Maritime Patrol (MARPAT) team of the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Agutaya, local police and Local Government Unit (LGU)-Agutaya around 7:00AM onboard F/Bca Edggie-6 at approximately 7 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Maracanao, Agutaya, Palawan.

The MARPAT team discovered compressors onboard the fishing boat which were believed to be used for illegal fishing activities.

Investigation revealed that the 31.95GT fishing boat was owned and operated by a certain Eddie Hopino, a resident of Caminawit, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. It was skippered by Chito Salor, 52 years old, with 28 fishermen onboard, also residents of Caminawit.

The municipality of Agutaya upholds General Ordinance 99-05 which regulates and prohibits transient fishermen from fishing or gathering marine products within the vicinity waters of the said area.

The arrested fishermen were then brought to Agutaya Wharf where they were issued a Certificate of Orderly Inspection. They were also turned-over to the Municipality of Agutaya for violating the said ordinance. 

Meanwhile, Salor paid the amount of P58, 705 to the Municipal Treasure Office of Agutaya as administrative fines for their violation with official receipt number 8283691 dated 05 September 2014, issued by Rowel Pablico, Municipal Treasurer of Agutaya.

At 7 PM, PCG granted said fishing vessel a clearance to depart Agutaya Wharf enroute to their homeport in Tagumpay 2, Caminawit, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.