Tarsiers, snakes held at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines – Doubting that it was a shipment of aquatic plants for Japan, agents of the Bureau of Customs and the Wildlife and Aquatic Resources got the surprise of their lives when 22 snakes and tarsiers greeted them when they opened five styrofoam boxes at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Thursday.

The endangered species were among 47 animals that a member of the Office of Transportation Security wanted flown to Japan on a Philippine Airlines flight. 

NAIA Customs district collector Edgar Macabeo said a thorough inspection revealed 11 tarsiers, considered among the world’s smallest primates, 11 monitor lizards, eight sailfin lizards, six water snakes, five rat snakes, three scops owls and three eagle owls.

The attempt to ship out the animals would have gone through had not Trade Control examiners Ariane Joy Santiaguel, Ronaldo Pardo and Lorna Morales doubted the declaration of the shipment.

Authorities held Gerald Bravo, a member of the Office of Transportation Security, who they claimed processed the documents and made several follow-ups for the shipment of the endangered species to a certain Shoji Masuyama of Japan.

Bravo was brought to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and charged with violation of Republic Act 9147, which prohibits the illegal trade of wildlife.