PCG tracking Guo’s escape route catches illegal fishers in Zambales
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES – A commercial fishing vessel found employing illegal methods was apprehended on Friday in the waters off Subic town in Zambales by a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) team that was in the area to investigate the possible escape route of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
The PCG Zambales, in a report Saturday, said the skipper and 17 crew members of FB/CA “Saling” were caught in the act using trawling and fine mesh net method while fishing in the waters off Sampaloc point. At least 800 kilos of assorted fish were seized from them.
The trawling and fine mesh net fishing method is illegal in the country because of its destructive effect on marine habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, which, once damaged, will take many years to recover.
PCG personnel went to Silanguin Cove to investigate the possible escape route of Guo, who was earlier reported to have fled the country using the sea passage and was later found to have reached Malaysia in July. The PCG tracking team instead spotted the fishing boat as they were heading for the Subic Freeport on Friday, the report said.
Upon inspection, the PCG discovered that the vessel, which was based and registered in Barangay Kalaklan in Olongapo City, did not have a master declaration of safe departure from their last known port, and that the total crew on board exceeded the allowed registered crew on the safe manning certificate.
The vessel was experiencing a mechanical problem when apprehended by the PCG. It remained in Sampaloc Point for troubleshooting and equipment repair together with 12 crew while the skipper and four crew members were brought to the PCG-Zambales station for proper investigation.
The confiscated fish were later distributed to the provincial jail and various provincial district hospitals in the province, according to the PCG.
