SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews / 7 Jan) – Nine of the 25 fishermen from this city who are languishing in jail in Indonesia are ill, according to their boat captain.
Rodrigo Puno, boat captain of MB/RGJ Fishing, told MindaNews Wednesday afternoon via long distance telephone that eight of his crew are having fever and one is suffering from malaria.
The fishermen, who are residents of the coastal villages of Sabang and San Juan here, sailed on Nov. 25 and were apprehended in Indonesian waters on Dec.[]
8 (not November 7 as earlier reported) allegedly for illegal fishing.
Aside from them, another group of 35 fishermen from General Santos were also apprehended and jailed in Indonesia on the same day.
Puno admitted that they have no permit to fish in Indonesian waters. He said they were tempted to fish in the area because it has a lot of fish.
Puno said their fishing expedition in the same area last September yielded them about P1.2 million.
The fishermen, who are now detained at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Sorong City of West Papua province, are Rodrigo T. Puno, captain of the boat; Jarewel R.
Perjesa, machinist; and crew members Cristobal T. Ilagan, Romeo A. Edradan, Edgar T. Gecozo, Ronald D. Buniel, Richard T. Cabero, Ruel C. Astronomo, Junnie A. Calundre, Joseph A. Calundre, Teresito S. Macabasag, Ronel J. Escultor, Roel D. Cabating, Alan B. Gucela, Jaime M. Govalanie, Homer C. Etac, Mansueto M. Abrao, Teodoro C. Dayagro Jr., Rolly D. Cabating, Rolando D. Bornea, Leopoldo C. Dadivas Jr., Efren C. Escultor, Nelson A. Arsaga, Jose R. Perjes and Max B. Gucela.
The boat’s operator listed in the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)-Caraga is Gemma V. Navarro of Barangay Togbongon here.[]
