Tuna handline operators have decried the alleged extortion activities by members of the Maritime police command in General Santos and in nearby Glan in Sarangani province.
A team from the Maritime police national office arrived in General
The team is headed by Supt. Manuel Reyes, assistant director for investigation of the Maritime police office in
Supt. Remegio Letrero, Maritime police director for
â€It’s unfair to generalize. They should identify who are involved,†Letrero said when reached for comment.
Roger Lim Sr., vice chair for external affairs of the Alliance of Tuna Handliners (ATH) here, told the Inquirer on Thursday that the extortion activities of the members of the Maritime police, whom he did not name, started in August.
â€Every time a handline boat sails off to the high seas, they would ask for two containers or about 60 liters of diesel fuel and one gallon or four liters of gasoline†Lim said.
He said upon the return of the fishermen, Maritime police personnel would again ask them for one or two junior-sized tuna weighing about 10-15 kilograms and 25 kilos of rice.
Lim said Maritime police personnel would usually wait for their victims either in Gumasa or Sumbang point in Glan or in Tinoto or Tampuan point in Maasim town, also in Sarangani.
Before, Lim said, the Maritime police would only ask for gasoline, rice and fish but later, they were seizing the boats and impounding them for about four to five days.
â€They would then ask how much amount the operator could give. This is too much. We could no longer tolerate this,†Lim said.
He said that the impounding of fishing vessels hampered their operations and caused them losses.
Lim said aside from handline fishermen, they learned that Maritime police personnel have been targeting those involved in purse seine fishing.
Lim’s group has sent copies of their complaints to several officials, including South Cotabato Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
Custodio said she already asked the police hierarchy to relieve all Maritime police personnel assigned in General Santos and in Glan. She also urged the complainants to file the necessary charges against erring police officers.