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A truckload of dynamited fish was seized by members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Visayan Seas Squadron (VSS) on Friday evening in Mandaue City.
Ceasar Morandarte of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the value of the fish was about P400,000.
On inspection, the 21 seized styro foam boxes, contained assorted fish such as Tanguige, Katambak, Kitong and Pugapo.
The internal organs of the fish were damaged, a sign that they were caught using dynamite.
“Paghiwa bungkag ang tinae, blooded pud ang tinae,” Morandarte said.
Andres Bojos, BFAR regional director, said that while there is no proof that eating blasted fish poses danger to consumers, what is certain is that dynamite fishing is an environment hazard.
The boxes of fish were loaded in an Isuzu van with plate number YDD 699.
The NBI arrested the cargo's consignee Edgar Nepangue along with Ronald and Luciano Tanlawan Jr., Rodolfo Obligan and Teodoro Cabahug.
Charges of illegal fishing and anti-fencing will be filed against them tomorrow.
The NBI is still confirming where the blasted fish came from.
Lawyer Antonio Oposa, a member of the VSS, said the organization's legal team would prepare charges against local officials from where the fish were sourced.
“Who allowed this to happen? Nagtanga lang sila, (They are being stupid). It shows the negligence and tolerance on the part of these officials. We would no longer stand and see these things happening, if inutil sila, pamahawa mo sa inyong position (If they are incompetent, they better leave their posts),” he Oposa said.
NBI's Rey Puno said an informant tipped them about an Isuzu Elf loaded with dynamite fishing catch taken from the port in Hagnaya in San Remegio town, northern Cebu.
The fish allegedly came from somewhere in Negros.
The van was intercepted about 6:30 p.m. Friday in barangay Basak, Mandaue City.
“It was on its way to the fish market in barangay Pasil, Cebu City. The A-1 type of fish are to be delivered to some restaurants in the city,” Puno said.
The seized boxes of fish were distributed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Mandaue City jail. With reports from Carine M. Asutilla
