Police seize explosives used for dynamite fishing in Mindanao

Published October 22, 2010 12:25pm

BUTUAN CITY â€“ Authorities on Thursday discovered explosives allegedly used for dynamite fishing inside the house of a fisherman in the southern Mindanao province of Surigao del Sur. The Caraga regional police identified the fisherman as Ruel Pizarraz, 28, of Barangay Aras-Asan, Cagwait town. He was brought to the Cagwait police station for further investigation. Seized by joint members of the National Police, local government of Cagwait, and the local Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources were:

two pieces of detonating cords;

ammonium nitrate powder;

white PVC pipes used as container for the detonating cords, and

empty bottles wrapped in red cellophane. Pizarraz's house was scoured by virtue of a search warrant isued by Cagwait municipal trial court judge Ambrosio Moleta. Authorities suspected that the confiscated materials were being used for dynamite fishing, a major problem in the southern Philippine region. It has already destroyed marine life in the area, especially coral reefs. â€“ Ben Serrano, Mark MerueÃ±as, VVP, GMANews.TV

Tags: illegalfishing, police, mindanao