DENR cracks down on illegal wildlife trade

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has intensified its crackdown against illegal wildlife trade, citing the arrest of 31 traders from March 2020 to May this year.

The DENR said the arrest of the illegal traders was part of its enhanced enforcement of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.

“While we admit that the 20-year-old RA 9147 needs to be amended, we at the DENR are doing our best to equip our indefatigable wildlife enforcers who never ceased in apprehending illegal wildlife traders and poachers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

He said the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) continues to strengthen the capacity of its wildlife enforcers with training and seminars on various areas of wildlife law enforcement, including lectures on national and international laws, monitoring of seaports and airports and cross-collaborative efforts with other law enforcement agencies.

DENR Undersecretary for special concerns and BMB director Edilberto Leonardo expressed support for pending bills in Congress to amend RA 9147.

“Illegal wildlife trade is considered a transnational crime. The current law... no longer impedes perpetrators in engaging in this act. The technology brought about by the internet also serves as a new platform for these culprits, which a 20-year-old law cannot penalize severely,” Leonardo said.

He said the bills pending at the Senate and the House of Representatives seek to address large-scale, transnational and organized wildlife trafficking, recalibrate penalties and provide administrative adjudication.