DENR to file criminal case vs eagle killer

MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Lito Atienza yesterday ordered lawyers of his department to file a criminal case against the self-confessed killer of Kagsabua, a Philippine eagle, whose mutilated parts were discovered last week in the mountains of Bukidnon.

Atienza said the 22-year-old suspect should face punishment for his “dastardly act” which was a clear violation of the country’s Wildlife Resources and Conservation and Protection Law (Republic Act 9147).

“This is to send a signal to the public that ignorance of the law would not absolve anyone,” Atienza said. “The killer of the rare eagle must suffer the consequences of his dastardly act to serve as a notice to everyone that we are serious in enforcing environmental laws.”

“The law may be harsh but we have to implement the law,” he stressed.

Atienza said “lumad” vegetable farmer Brian Bala-on violated Section 28 of RA 9147, which provides that any person who kills and destroys a critically endangered species may face imprisonment for a maximum 12 years and/or fine of as much as P1 million.

Bala-on earlier admitted to have shot and killed the three-year-old Philippine eagle, but claimed that he was not aware that the bird was a critically endangered bird.

He said he thought that it was only a big hawk, perched on a tree near his farm at Mount Kitanglad Natural Park. The bird was reportedly hit right in the heart and instantly died.

Bala-on also admitted that he chopped off its two legs, burned the feathers and brought home the four-pound bird. He said he even invited two friends to feast on the bird soup he prepared.

“This should be the test case for the green courts and green prosecutors who were recently trained by the government. This would show how fast the green courts would take action on an environmental case like this,” Atienza said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the untimely demise of Kagsabua ended a possible love story being hatched by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), which was planning to also release Tinuy-an, a young female Philippine eagle, in the same site where Kagsabua was released four months ago.

Tinuy-an, which was also rescued in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, was thought to provide the rare opportunity to know more about the behavior and ecology of the Philippine eagle, and if she interacts with Kagsabua, the range of social interaction between youngsters.

The DENR also said that at the PEF, Kagsabua and Tinuy-an used to be “neighbors” since their cages were placed in full view of each other in an attempt to introduce the two birds to each other.

Release papers for Tinuy-an were yet to be completed when Kagsabua was felled by a bullet.

Kagsabua, which means “unity,” was first shot in September 2006. A team of three Mount Kitanglad volunteers recovered the wounded fledgling eagle from a man who brought it home and kept it in a cage. During examination, veterinarians found that the bird had sustained a bullet wound in the neck while its wing muscles were bruised, and it was “moderately dehydrated.”

Subsequent x-ray, however, showed that Kagsabua had a gun pellet lodged between the skin and the skull at the back of the head. Fortunately, the bird’s skull was not fractured.