The owners and boat captains of two fishing boats that were apprehended for illegal fishing in Ajuy town face multiple criminal charges before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. The complaint for violation of Section 86 (unauthorized fishing) and Section 97 (ban on muro-ami, other methods and gears destructive to coral reefs and other marine habitat) of Republic Act 10654 (The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998) has been filed against Boat Captain Rogelio Reyes of FB Rosal on Feb. 1. The Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force led by Police Officer 2 James Stephen Lucero and Police Officer 1 Veemil Balasote caught Reyes and his 10-man crew from barangays Pantalan, Carles and Botongan, Estancia engaging in Danish siene fishing (hulbot-hulbot) on Jan. 31.

Nepomocceno, J. (2018, February 06). Boat operators, captains face illegal fishing rap. Panay News, pp. 3, 14.