‘Bantay Kalikasan’ drive leads to 490 arrests in Western Visayas

LOILO CITY — Authorities arrested nearly 500 individuals and confiscated over P27.3 million worth of illegal catch, timber, and equipment during a month-long environmental crackdown across Western Visayas in August, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) reported.

According to the consolidated accomplishment report released by PRO6, a total of 490 individuals were taken into custody following 635 operations conducted from August 1 to 31, under the intensified “PRO6 Bantay Kalikasan” campaign.

Maritime crackdown

In the campaign against illegal fishing, regional law enforcers conducted 202 operations, resulting in the arrest of 315 individuals.

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Police seized an estimated P550,150 worth of illegally caught fish, alongside various fishing gear, paraphernalia, and motorized boats valued at P25,602,350. Total marine-related seizures reached P26,152,500.

The Antique Police Provincial Office (PPO) spearheaded the drive in terms of operations, conducting 85 anti-illegal fishing raids that led to 87 arrests. Meanwhile, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) registered the highest number of apprehensions, detaining 141 individuals from across 73 operations.

Illegal logging

In forestry protection efforts, police launched 433 anti-illegal logging operations, leading to the arrest of 175 individuals.

Operations led to the recovery of forest products, including illegally harvested lumber, with an estimated value of P1,176,779.45.

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Antique PPO led the anti-logging campaign with 134 operations and 124 arrests, followed closely by Aklan PPO, which recorded 122 operations and 45 arrests.

Overall, PRO6 operations against illegal fishing and logging yielded total seizures and recoveries valued at P27,329,279.45 for the month of August.

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Police Brigadier General Randulf T. Tuaño, PRO6 director, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to strictly enforcing environmental laws to safeguard the region’s marine habitats, forests, and biodiversity.

“Protecting our environment is an integral part of maintaining safety and order in our communities. We will continuously intensify our operations against illegal fishing, illegal logging, and other destructive activities,” Tuaño said.

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PRO6 also appealed to the public for continued cooperation, encouraging residents to promptly report any illegal or suspicious environmental activities to the nearest police station. /mr