Santander imposes stricter penalties on bird killers

CEBU, Philippines - Due to the increasing violation of its Bird Sanctuary Ordinance, the municipal council of Santander recently amended the said law and increased its fines and penalties.

“It was observed that the implementation was not enough to apprehend violators because the more the ordinance became strict, the more the perpetrators,” read a portion of the approved resolution.

The Bird Sanctuary Ordinance, which declares the entire territorial jurisdiction of Santander as a bird sanctuary, was approved on July 14, 2011, but with hunting activities still seen in the area, Councilor Santiago Gador sponsored a resolution amending this law, particularly its penal clause.

Gardor’s resolution was approved last February 20, and was adapted by the Provincial Board during its regular session last Monday.

Under the newly-amended  ordinance, a violator, someone who is seen hunting birds in the town, can be slapped with a P2,5000 fine for every hunting instrument found in his/her possession, and another P2,500 for every stone, marble (used in slingshots), arrow or gun bullet found during the arrest.

The ordinance prohibits individuals from carrying any of these hunting instruments: guns, slingshots, bows and arrows, entrapment devices and poisonous concoction intended to catch the birds. Otherwise they will be fined at least P2,500.

The original ordinance’s maximum penalty was only P2,500, regardless of how many hunting instruments and devices the violator was carrying during the arrest, and a jail time of not more than three months.

The amended local ordinance, albeit it upped the penalties, deleted the jail time provision, however.

And for its strict implementation, the law provides cash incentives, to be taken from the fines, to the informant and the arresting officer. —/JMD (FREEMAN)