The Special Task Group Malampaya, on board the Multi- Purpose Attack Crack BA 484 skippered by LTJG JEFFREY ESTEBAN PN, and Naval Special Operation Unit (NAVSOU) 10 led by LTJG SAMUEL ROSETE, PN, while conducting security/ interdiction maritime patrol (MARPAT) at the safety zone of Malampaya Natural Gas Power Project (MNGPP) at about 1522 19 H August 2011, apprehended the F/B Alvin Jay for illegal fishing thru MURO-AMI type using four (4) compressor motors with three hundred (300) meters compressor hose and nets having an aggregate value, including fish catch and fishing paraphernalia, amounting to 1.2 million pesos.
The fishing boat, F/B Alvin Jay is owned by Susan Esparagosa, a resident of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental. The boat captain, Leonardo Codillera, and its twenty eight (28) crew were brought and turned over to El Nido Environmental Law Enforcement for appropriate filing of charges. It was further learned that the F/B and its crew has no appropriate/pertinent documents and appropriate fishing permit.
On the basis of the plea of guilty, the Quasi- Judical Body of El Nido Environmental Law Enforcement Council has found that the respondent clearly violated the Municipal Fisheries code of El Nido as amended by section 80 and 82 of Municipal Ordinance no. 01-A, series of 2003 and thus, were ordered to pay a total of Seventy Two Tousand Five hundred pesos (72,500.00). Likewise, the four (4) compressors, two (2) compressor tanks, three hundred meters of compressor hose and assorted fish catch were confiscated in favor of the government.
It can be recalled that on 16 August 2011 the Maritime Task Group Malampaya (MTGM) apprehended F/ B Angel Liam at the Exclusion Zone of the MNGPP with similar violations and was also given the same penalty and fine totaling to Seventy two thousand five hundred (72,500.00) pesos.
The Municipal Council of El Nido once more lauded the efforts and congratulated the Joint Task Force Malampaya for their support in thwarting the destructive method of fishing and helping the municipal government preserve the marine life of El Nido, Palawan.
August 26, 2011
–CDR Michael J. Ordoño, PN, JTFM