Tombstones at sea for Cebuano diver

tomb

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.

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