By Jezza A. Nepomoceno

Two fishermen face charges after they were recently caught using improvised explosives to gather fish, a violation of RA 10654, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
42-year-old Jonie G. Paghinayan and 27-year-old Reagan de la Cruz, both of Barangay Lantangan, Carles in Iloilo, were charged before the Iloilo Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.
According to Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force leader, Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Gilbert Piedad, the two were caught 3.51 kilometers from the shoreline of Barangay Gabi, Carles, earlier this week.
Seized from the two were their boat, an engine, shafting, a propeller, a rudder, an improvised air compressor, a compressor tank, two rolls of air compressor hose, three scope nets, improvised clippers, and other paraphernalia.
The suspects are currently under the custody of the Carles Municipal Police Station, with bail set at P20,000 each.
If found guilty, the two face five to ten years behind bars./WDJ