The Maritime Task Group Malampaya on Board BRP FILIPINO FLOJO (PG 386) led by LCDR SHERWIN E. RESPETO PN the Commander and Captain of the ship, while conducting security/ interdiction marine patrol going towards Malampaya Natural Gas Power Project (MNGPP) at about  1500H, 16 August 2011, apprehended the F/B Angel Liam fishing boat for illegal fishing thru MURO-AMI using eight(8) compressor motors (1,500 PSI ea/6 optg/2 not optg) with three thousand five hundred (3,500) meters compressor hose and fine mesh nets having an aggregate market value, including fish catch and fishing paraphernalias, amounting to 1.8 million pesos.

The fishing boat, F/B Angel Liam is owned by Norie V. Esparagosa, a resident of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental, the boat captain, Juan Resulta Jr., Radin Cha, the master fisherman and Nelson Chan, the chief engineer of the said vessel and manned by twenty nine (29) others, they were brought and turned over to El Nido Environmental Law Enforcement Council for appropriate filing of charges. It was further learned that the said F/B and its patron/crews have no pertinent documents/licenses to operate.

On the basis of the plea of guilty, the Quasi-Judicial Body of El Nido Environmental Law Enforcement Council have found that the respondents 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 fine of Ninety Five Thousand (Php. 95,000.00) pesos. Likewise, six (6) compressors, four (4) compressors tanks, three thousand five hundred (3,500) meters of the compressor hose and assorted fish catch were confiscated in favor of the government. The Municipal Council of El Nido had lauded the efforts and congratulates the Joint Task Force Malampaya for their support and thwarting the destructive method of fishing and helping preserve the Marine life of El Nido, Palawan.

 

 

August 25, 2011

-Lt. Col. Virgilio P. Balatayo, PA, JTFM