PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Policemen have confiscated three live and three dead critically endangered sea turtles from eight suspected illegal fishermen in the northern Palawan town of Roxas.
Palawan Police spokesperson, Senior Insp. Ric Ramos, said Friday afternoon personnel from the municipal police station apprehended the suspects on the morning of March 14 in the coastal village of Sitio Ligawen, Barangay Taradungan.
He identified them as Julito Trinidad, Alfredo Guerrero, Ronel Berial, Jomar Matarong, Arnel Arevalo, Michael Lagahan, Jeffrey Aremala, and Eddie Emperial, all residents of Barangay 1 in the town proper of Roxas.
They were arrested for fishing with the use of compressors, which are banned under the country’s fisheries law.
The suspects have been charged with violating the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act No. 10654) and the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147) for possessing live and preserved sea turtles.
Also confiscated from them were two motorized bancas, two compressors with tanks and hoses, 55 kg. of assorted fish, five harpoons, two flashlights, two paddles, 10 liters of gasoline, and 7 liters of diesel. (Gerardo Reyes, Jr./PNA)
