Two fishermen blast selves with dynamite

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan- Two fishermen who tried to catch fish by means of dynamite last week were seriously wounded after the dynamite they were using blasted themselves instead in Barangay Capandanan, this town.

Supt. Harris Fama, chief of police here, identified the victims as Zaldy Salva, 40 and Virgilio Castro, 39, married and both residents of Barangay Capandanan this town.

According to Fama, a concerned citizen called up Lingayen police station informing the police that there were victims of dynamite fishing along the Lingayen gulf. Immediately, investigator SPO2 Mardy delos Santos was send off to verify the report.

At this juncture, Fama said his men were able to rescue the two victims swimming on their own blood at the coastal area.

Interview with the two victims, Fama said, revealed that when Salva was about to throw a dynamite into the water, the dynamite prematurely exploded causing major injury to both of them.

The explosion severed his right hand which caused his fingers to be amputated while Castro sustained several injuries in his body.

Mayor Ernesto Jonas Castaneda earlier pronounced an all out campaign against illegal fishing along Lingayen Gulf and ordered Fama to tighten surveillance not only on those who are supplying dynamites but unscrupulous illegal fishers.

Fama said he will endorse to Castaneda deputization of selected fishermen to serve as fish wardens and who will enforce fishing laws and monitor the coastal area of Lingayen.-Mar T Supnad