The Bacolod City Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) stopped an attempt by several minors to add janitor fish to the fountain area of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), last month.

POSO head Celestino Guara said four minors were seen holding several buckets of janitor fish and were planning to pour it into the fountain area, which houses hundreds of koi fish.

Guara said three of the minors fled after getting caught, while the fourth, an 8-year-old boy, was brought to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office.

The boy said they were ordered by a relative to pour the buckets into the fountain area, but claimed he was not aware of the reason.

Janitor fish, equipped with a sucker-like mouth, are known for cleaning algae, particularly in aquariums. However, they pose a threat to other fish who live off algae as janitor fish often eat all of the food intended for other fish, resulting in a threat the local aquatic population.

Guara added, the four are the same children who were caught throwing frogs into the fountain area before last month’s MassKara Festival.

POSO personnel are now guarding the area 24 hours a day to prevent the incident from happening again./DGB, WDJ