SAN FABIAN—Three blast fishermen were arrested for possession of improvised explosive devices on July 18 during simultaneous raids at their houses in Barangay Nibaliw Narvarte here.

P/Chief Inspector Arvin Jacob, police chief here identified the suspects as Boyet Salcedo, 46, Reynaldo Tanghel, 51, and Jeson Imbornal, 44.

Police found two improvised dynamite in Salcedo’s house while Tanghel’s house yielded two improvised dynamite with blasting caps and Imbornal had three bottles of explosive device known as bongbong.

Jacob said the suspects had been warned many times to stop their illegal activities but they did not stop.

He said the police had to resort to search warrants since they are unable to catch them while blasting the sea to fish. “We don’t have the logistics to chase and arrest them out in the sea hence only a successful service of search warrants in their houses can lead to their arrests,” Jacob said.

He said the arrest of the three should serve as a warning and a lesson to other fishermen in the area. “There will be no let-up in the campaign,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Jacob said Mayor Constante Agbayani provided fish nets and fishing bancas to fishermen in the coastal barangays to boost the town’s campaign to stop illegal fishing.

Jacob said fishermen resort to blast-fishing during rainy season.

Cases for violation in Presidential Decree 1866 or unlawful manufacture, sales, acquisition, disposition or possession of explosives have been filed against the three. (Nora Dominguez)

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