By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Eight fishermen were arrested last Thursday after they were caught poaching seahorses in Manapla.

The eight were split between two boats. Police identified one set of suspects as Wilmer Pasigna, Vicente Aalbarico, Arwen Morano, and Jovanie Pilapil, all residents of Barangay Molocaboc, Sagay City.

The other set of suspects were identified as Pederick Serapino of Barangay Punta Salong, Manapla; alongside Rodrigo Mallorca, Reynaldo Lagnaso, and Mammer Pillipas, all of Barangay 2A, Manapla.

According to a report submitted to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office yesterday, around 5:52 a.m., Police Inspector Christopher Garde, along with personnel from the Provincial Environmental Management Office and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, conducted a joint operation against the suspects for illegal use of a compressor, which provides air for divers through a hose.

However, aside from compressors, they discovered the suspects were also illegally fishing for seahorses.

Police recovered a total of 41 seahorses, a compressor motor hose, face mask, and wooden fins.

The suspects face charges in violation of Section 102 of RA 10654, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998./DGB, WDJ