Madrigal laments cases filed vs illegal fishers ‘neglected’
Former Capitol Chief Security Officer Loy Anthony Madrigal is disappointed that some of the cases he filed against illegal transporters of endangered shells and birds were dismissed while some cases were no longer attended to by the current members of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force (CPAIFTF).
One of the dismissed cases Madrigal was referring to was against the owner of the shell warehouse in barangay San Roque, Talisay City in July last year wherein 200 sacks of endangered shells were seized.
READ: Seashells seized in Talisay warehouse
According to Madrigal, one of the cases that the members of the CPAIFTF neglected was that against the persons arrested for transporting a truck full of trumpet shells, commonly known as tambuli, and helmet shells worth P2 million in Minglanilla, Cebu in June last year.
Charges were also filed against persons who were on a truck filled with endangered trumpet shells seized in Daanbantayan town, northern Cebu in August 2014 as well as those on a truck carrying ten endangered birds intercepted in San Roque, Talisay City June last year.
In a phone call, Madrigal said he has been receiving reports from fisherfolk in northern Cebu that illegal fishing continues but the CPAIFTF has not taken any action to stop the activity.
But Czareem Joseph Estella, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and the focal person of the anti-illegal fishing task force told reporters they have agreed to stay out of Madrigal’s unfinished business.
Estella said the pending cases Madrigal filed are regarded as his personal cases since he was never a member of the CPAIFTF.
“It was agreed by the task force nga all cases filed by Loy (Madrigal) should be treated as just personal cases because there was no imprimatur from the task force,” he said.
He clarified that while Madrigal was still under the Office of the Governor, he was given the authority by Davide to apprehend illegal fishing operations but not the authority to apprehend using the CPAIFTF’s name because Madrigal was not part of the task force.
Madrigal resigned last year after facing a string of controversies including an alleged illicit affair with his secretary.
READ: Husband: Madrigal used his power to lure my wife
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