By el Amigo
MANILA — Four individuals were arrested after authorities recovered 33 live wildlife specimens in a coordinated operation against alleged illegal wildlife trading in Taytay, Palawan on Sept. 25.
The operation was spearheaded by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), with support from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other government security units.
Among those involved were personnel from the City Mobile Force Company, Puerto Princesa City Police Office, Peace and Security Cluster, Naval Intelligence and Security Group and the Special Forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Authorities conducted the operation after receiving information about a suspected illegal wildlife transaction. The enforcement team proceeded to Sitio Ibangley in Barangay Abungan, Taytay, where the suspects allegedly presented live animals for sale.
The recovered specimens included a Palawan peacock-pheasant, Palawan stink badger, eight blue-naped parrots, 20 live turtles, two live otters and an adult lizard.
Marked money, cellular phones and a vehicle allegedly used in the transaction were also recovered.
The suspects and the wildlife were subsequently turned over to the PCSD for proper disposition and handling.
Authorities are pursuing charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said wildlife protection remains an important part of government efforts to preserve the country’s natural resources.
“Ang wildlife natin ay bahagi ng ating natural heritage, kaya hindi ito dapat tratuhin na parang ordinaryong kalakal,” Nartatez said (Our wildlife is part of our natural heritage, so it should not be treated like ordinary merchandise.)
He said the PNP would continue coordinating with government agencies to ensure that reports involving illegal wildlife activities are properly acted upon.
The PNP said the operation demonstrates the importance of inter-agency cooperation in protecting biodiversity and enforcing environmental laws.
It added that the effort is consistent with its Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO) under the PNP Focused Agenda and its “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat at Nararamdaman” thrust.
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