Dynamite
fishing supplier nabbed
By Thess dela Cruz
Masbate - Members of the Philippine National Police – Maritime
Group nabbed the illegal supplier of blasting materials
reportedly used for illegal fishing in Masbate and Sorsogon
areas in a police operation in Barangay Pasig, Claveria, Masbate
last Saturday morning, September 25, 2004.
Police Superintendent Augusto Alvindas Erebete, Regional Officer
of the Fifth Regional Maritime Office based in Rawis, Legaspi
City, identified the suspect as Raul Albao of Sitio K-Putol, Bgy.
Pasig, Claveria, Masbate.
After receiving intelligence and surveillance reports from the
said area, the office of Sup. Erebete applied for the necessary
documents to carry out the operation. Armed with Search Warrant
No. 2004-003/004 issued by Hon. Judge Jose L. Madrid of RTC
Branch 51 in Sorsogon City, a four-man team from PNP Maritime
Group led by Insp. Rizaldy Ll. Caballero and two personnel from
the Philippine Navy conducted the operation at Bgy. Pasig.
The search on the residence of Albao resulted in the
confiscation of the following contrabands: three pieces of .357
Magnum Revolver, 63 pieces of blasting caps, 12 packs (of
one-half kilo per pack) of suspected ammonium nitrate, and 9
packs (of one kilo per pack) of the same material, one plastic
bag containing sando bags, a weighing scale, and one plastic
container.
The suspect was slapped with charges at the Masbate Provincial
Prosecution Office for violating Republic Act 8550 otherwise
known as The Philippine Fishery Code of 1998 and Republic Act
8294 or Illegal Possession of Firearms. He is currently detained
at the Masbate City Police Station.
The PNP Maritime Group under its National Director, Police Chief
Superintendent Ricardo Binabay Dapat, is intensifying its
campaign against illegal fishers including suppliers of
materials used to perpetuate illegal fishing activities.
Police
Superintendent Augusto Alvindas Erebete, Regional Officer of the
Fifth Regional Maritime Office (3rd from left) personally went
to Masbate to inspect the confiscated evidences and congratulate
the operation team led by Insp. Caballero (2nd from left). The
suspect, Raul Albao, (4th from left) is on handcuffs.
