A tombstone of dive instructor Al Bernard Coyoca is placed underwater a few meters from the beachfront of a Daanbantayan resort by his diver friends. (Contributed)
Students and friends of the late dive instructor Al Bernard Coyoca lay tombstones under the sea in his favorite diving spot in Mactan island and another where he was found after an unsolved Sept. 30 dynamite blast accident in far north Cebu.
The first marker was installed underwater in Kontiki Marina at Mactan Island last Oct. 24
Yesterday, a second memorial was placed two meters from the beach in Daanbantayan town.
The death of Al Bernard, the victim of a dynamite explosion caused by unidentified fishermen who were operating in the area where he was diving, has spurred an online campaign to stop illegal dynamite fishing.
Lorna Coyoca, the diver’s mother who posted the appeal in the website change.org, is part of efforts to take the support of over 30,000 signatories to a wider campaign.
She and family members were present yesterday with Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro to witness the tombstone laying in a beachfront in Daanbantayan.
“I am touched because he has been given importance. He was appreciated,” Lorna told Cebu Daily News yesterday.
The stone tablets read: “R.I.P Al Bernard G. Coyoca,” with his birthdate of May 7, 1982, the date he was killed on Sept. 30, 2015 and a simple message: “We will miss you.”
Divers who installed the tombstones included Robby Fuentes, Nomer Sevilla, Miguel Cruz, Murpheus Galariana ,Philip John Tolo and Zach Dilworth.
Lorna remembered her 33-year-old son as “an outspoken advocate for nature especially to the ocean that he loved.”
During a forum at Cebu City Hall last Friday, fellow ocean advocates gathered to discuss how to push a campaign for public and private markets to stop selling dynamited fish.
Lorna, who attended, recalled how Al Bernard once saw a baby shark swimming in a pond of a local seafood restaurant.
“He never hesitated to take a photo and post on Twitter and other social media accounts making noise about how local laws can’t protect sea creatures,” said Lorna, a homemaker.
After their next visit to the same restaurant, she said they learned that the shark was set free in the sea by the management.
For All Souls’ Day, the family will visit and offer prayers at Liloan Memorial Park where the late diver was laid to rest.
The online petition in change.org was launched in October 21 and gathered more than 30,000 supporters in a little over a week. They come from the Philippines and other countries such as the
United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland, Italy and Singapore.
“I want to give meaning to my son’s death by doing this (campaign), instead of just grieving. In doing so, we can be a help to our society,” said Lorna.
Councilor Nida Carbera said she would draft an ordinance to require the registration of vessels “to strengthen the fisheries policies in Cebu City” and provide training for prevention and marketing denial.
Vince Cinches, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said that they have identified Pasil Market because it is one of the biggest fish markets in the Visayas.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7) through its regional director, Andres Bojos, committed to help train and deputize fish inspectors.
“We will also educate the people, fisher folks and the LGUs on how dangerous dynamite fishing is,” Bojos added.
Chad Estella, head of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force said they have posted tarp banners in public markets warning against the sale of illegally caught fish. He recommended spot inspections aside from checking invoices and transport permits of the fish supplied in the market.
Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro called for the cooperation of the community, not just the government and police.
“It is our responsibility. We don’t want for another incident to happen. I entered politics because of this advocacy, to fight illegal fishing,” Corro added.
Last June 2, the mayor signed an executive order creating a shark and ray sanctuary in Monad Shoal and Gato Island off Malapascua Island.
Ernesto Rama, chairman of the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission, said he is requesting a P20 million budget from the city to fight illegal fishing.
“We have to be more efficient in implementing the fisheries code,” Rama said.