By Jezza A. Nepomoceno

A number of fishermen were apprehended by the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force over the weekend off the coast of Bago-Alas Island, Barangay Taloto-an, Concepcion after they were caught gathering shellfish without permits.
According to task force head, Senior Police Office 1 (SPO1) Jose Ronnie Panes, the fishermen were caught in two separate operations.
Among those captured in the first operation were Nelson Alcala and three crew members of the M/BCA Ignacio from Barangay Punta Batwanon, Carles, Iloilo; Mermin Borres and three crew members of M/BCA 3 Kings from Barangay Asluman, Carles, Iloilo; and Sandy Neminzo and one crew members of an unnamed motorboat from Barangay Borongon, San Dionisio, Iloilo.
The fishermen were found in violation of Concepcion Municipal Ordinance No. 1, series of 2008, which prohibits fishing without a permit and requires fishing boats to be registered.
The second group was composed of 16 crew members of the M/BCA Toto Jabie, operated by Roselyn Buncad and piloted by Jonathan Buncad, both residents of Barangay San Fernando, Carles, Iloilo, who were caught using a modified drift trawl, locally known as “palukso,” without a permit./WDJ