Teen testifies vs fisherman for killing sea turtle

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – A 13-year-old high school student in Albay has taken the risk in testifying against a fisherman who was arrested for allegedly poaching and killing an endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the coastal waters of Sto. Domingo town last month.

Albay provincial prosecutor Maria Teresa Mahiwo approved the filing of criminal charges for violation of Section 27 of Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, against Buyito Orosco, 50, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Sto. Domingo town.

This, after the second-year student of the Sto. Domingo National High School executed a sworn statement that he saw Orosco, along with three others, pulling a fishnet with the sea turtle last June 10.

The teenager said he saw Orosco tying the two front paws of the sea turtle with a rope to a buoy, instead of sending it back to the sea. The sea turtle died hours after.

In an operation that same day, PO3 Gerard Lladones, assisted by a Bantay-Dagat team, arrested Orosco while in the act of pulling a rope tied to a buoy with the dead sea turtle tied on the other end.

Prosecutor Alym Almayda found the testimonies of the student and the arresting policemen credible and charges were filed against Orosco before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Sto. Domingo-Manito.

After posting P12,000 bail, Orosco was set free pending trial of the case.

Named as complainant against the fisherman was Melita Aberga, chief of the Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Bicol.

There have been several cases of poaching and killing of sea turtles across Bicol, but no charges have been filed as no witnesses have surfaced.