Man nabbed for duck hunting in Pampanga

Candaba, Pampanga ,Philippines  – A man was arrested here Sunday for shooting wild ducks, locally known as dumaras.

Chief Superintendent Henry Flores identified the suspect as Herbert Jacobe, married and a resident of Barangay Upig in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.    

Charges were filed against Jacobe, who is detained at the Candaba Municipal Jail, for violation of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources and Conservation and Protection Act.

Danilo Clemente, ecosystem management specialist of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Jacobe could be imprisoned from two to four years and fined P30,000 to P300,000 for each bird.

Flores said concerned residents reported to police that a man was bird hunting in Sitio Perlas.

Responding policemen caught Jacobe with 12 ducks, 11 of them dead. Jacobe also had 12 wooden duck replicas and two whistles he used to attract the ducks. An Akkar shotgun, 15 pieces of ammunition, nine shells and four shotguns were seized from him.

Police said Jacobe was enjoying a picnic with his wife and two children when he was arrested.

Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo said the arrest of Jacobe should send a strong message that they are determined to implement the law against environmental violators.

Pelayo said dumaras are considered an endangered species. He said latest estimate showed that there are only about 6,000 of them in the Candaba Swamp.

“We have long banned wild duck hunting at the Candaba Swamp also because of the threat of bird flu since 2006,” Pelayo said. – Ding Cervantes, Dino Balabo, Ric Sapnu