By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Mindoro-bound fishermen who were held in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental after failing to secure necessary transit documents are not allowed to sail in the territorial waters of the province.
According to Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Ma. Lina Sanogal, four men arrived in Sipalay onboard a motorboat and introduced themselves as fishermen from Dapitan City en route to Mindoro. They were, however, detained by local police and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as their documents stated they were only allowed to operate within the territorial waters of Dapitan City.
Sanogal explained it is illegal to sail or make port in waters belonging to Negros Occidental without proper documents.
Despite the Dapitan-based fishermen claiming they were only stopping to refuel, Sanogal said she remains suspicious.
“It is questionable as to why they have two engines and it is also suspicious that they were going to Mindoro yet they did not carry enough fuel,” she stressed.
The provincial official also confirmed a separate group of fishermen had arrived in nearby Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, and were also held by local police and maritime enforcement personnel.
Both the PCG and the police in southern Negros are already on full alert status due to recent conflicts in Mindanao and concerns over the possible spillover of violence into Negros island.
The four fishermen were later freed by the PCG after Dapitan City police reported none of them had prior criminal charges.
However, PCG-Bacolod commander, Lieutenant Senior Grade Jimmy Oliver Vingno, required the fishermen to sign a waiver promising they would return to their home port instead of continuing on to Mindoro./WDJ