Enforcement Best Practices in Cortes

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 CortesEnforcers 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)

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

WeaknessesOrdinance 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 procedureHandling 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 )

JudgmentAt 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

operationCommunication must be accessible anytimeOrient the group that always ready for

anytime operationPreparation 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 authoritativeDon’t use patrol boat in the tough/special

operationAside from underwater camera and GPS,

bring also 2 sets of diving gearsUse high tide and low as your basis in the

operation

For MPA:Don’t stay in the guardhouse if you want

apprehensionsAlways blotter all intrusions happen within

the NTZ ( apprehended or not apprehended)Gather any evidences if you apprehending

violatorsUse logbooks

To be successful in the Coastal Law enforcement, there are things to consider:

- Capacity of the enforcers - Political will - Community participation

Salamat rakan sa ijo pagpamati dagway…