PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, (PNA) — The townsfolk of Sofronio Española received assorted prime species of fish from policemen over the weekend.
The assortment of fish – which included dalagang bukid, surahan and labahita – were a product of the police operation on October 26, where more than 200 kilos of fish were recovered by Sofronio Española police along the coast of Sitio Padang, Barangay Pulot Shore.
“They were like Santa Claus in blue uniforms, going around handing out fish, regardless of who you are and where you came from. It was a rare blessing from our policemen,” said Diosdado Tingson, one of the more than a hundred people in Barangay Poblacion, who received the “surprise gift” from the Municipal Police Station.
“Just like manna from heaven, it was an early Christmas gift from the police. These are good kinds of fish and so many for one week. A big help for all of us employees of the municipal government,” said Jennifer Nez, who works at the Mayor’s Office in Sofronio Española Municipal Hall.
Española MPS chief of police Insp. Ludovico P. Gamuyao Jr., who led the raiding team, said that they acted on a tip that some fishermen were using dynamite in their fishing activities.
Perpetrators fled as soon as they learned police were on their way, leaving behind the tons of fish with nets, unmarked fishing boat and dynamite fishing paraphernalia.
“We arrived finding these assorted fish abandoned, so we recovered them and gave it away to the community,” Gamuyao told the Philippines News Agency.
Aside from the poblacion area, Gamuyao said they distributed the fish also to different areas in the municipality, including Sitio Tagbabalat, Pulot Center, and Pulot Interior.