History Before, out 63 cases, 60 were all dismissed only 3 prospered In the year 2006 till present 100 percent of the cases filed prospered (all of them plead guilty)

Strength of Enforcement of LGU Cortes Enforcers were oriented/trained - Marine Ecology - CRM - Fishery laws ( National- RA 8550 & Local – Municipal Ordinance - Boarding procedures - Handling of evidence Created Municipal Enforcement Action Team (EO)

Provided all support on the enforcement - Patrol boats and other monitoring equipments - Maintenance - Incentives to enforcers - Budget for court litigations - Insurance benefits/Philhealth

Weaknesses Ordinance enacted imposed lower penalty

Chain of Enforcement

Surveillance & Detection We conducted sea-borne patrol once a week only We have 3 hotline numbers ( Mayor, MAO and Me ) Fishers are our intelligence ( cellphones )

Arrest  Boarding procedure  Handling of evidence  For dynamite & dynamited Fish Conduct fish examination/attached the examination report with pics Send a letter request to the Fiscal for the examination of the Dynamite Dynamite should be examine by the explosive department and attached the examination report to the case.

Prosecution Major cases and third offenses will be filed in court ( National law – RTC, Municipal Ordinance – MCTC )

Judgment At present all of the violators were convicted but they availed lower sanctions because they plead guilty

Top tips for enforcement: Select personnel you can trust in the operation Communication must be accessible anytime Orient the group that always ready for anytime operation Preparation of enforcement plan is good but for the tough operation it must be swift that even your members don’t know where to go Don’t take off within the hot spot area.

Don’t follow the rules of engagement in enforcing the law in the sea Be authoritative Don’t use patrol boat in the tough/special operation Aside from underwater camera and GPS, bring also 2 sets of diving gears Use high tide and low as your basis in the operation

For MPA: Don’t stay in the guardhouse if you want apprehensions Always blotter all intrusions happen within the NTZ ( apprehended or not apprehended) Gather any evidences if you apprehending violators Use logbooks

To be successful in the Coastal Law enforcement, there are things to consider: - Capacity of the enforcers - Political will - Community participation

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