BASILAN PROVINCE, Philippines — July 26, 2025 — A routine seaborne patrol operation conducted by the Basilan Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA) led to the confiscation of a commercial fishing boat and the arrest of an unlicensed fisherman in the waters off Barangay Upper Portholland, Maluso, Basilan.
The operation, which took place at around 8:45 PM on Saturday, involved the inspection of locally known fishing vessels called kulibo and other motorized pump boats operating in the area.
Authorities intercepted one fishing boat and apprehended a crew member found to be working without proper licensing, a clear violation of Section 113 of Republic Act No. 10654. The law prohibits small-scale and commercial fishing operators from employing unlicensed fisherfolk, fish workers, or crew.
The fishing boat and its crew were brought to the Basilan MARPSTA Office for documentation and investigation. Officials confirmed that the case will be forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) in Basilan for the filing of an administrative case under the said provision.
The maritime police reiterated their commitment to enforcing fisheries regulations in the province to promote sustainable fishing practices and protect the livelihoods of law-abiding fisherfolk.
RA 10654 is an amendment to the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 aimed at strengthening the country’s efforts to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.