In just five months, the criminal charges filed against illegal fishers here nearly doubled compared to last year's accomplishment of the Bantay Bata Task Force. The task force reported that the number of cases filed in court increased from 13 in 2014 to 24 as of May 31, 2015. This showed how serious the provincial government is in prosecuting illegal fishers, said Provincial Administrator Raul Banias. "Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. declared an all-out war against illegal fishers in 2010. It is gaining ground now," he said.

Napomoceno, J. (2015, June 10). Illegal fishing cases surge. Panay News, pp. 2, 15.