7 charged for selling endangered animals

CEBU, Philippines - Seven people are facing charges before the court after selling almost 100 endangered wildlife species in different areas in Cebu.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has filed cases against seven illegal wildlife traders for violating Section 27 of Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. 

The suspects are Alfredo Librando, Darwin Abella, Mark Anthony Bejic, Juanito Sialongo, Grimbaldo Calinga, and spouses Benjamin and Mirabel Abella.

DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo said the suspects were caught in the act of selling 96 wildlife birds, reptile and other wildlife species, such as Philippine Sailfin Lizards, Leopard gecko, juvenile Palawan Hill Myna, Juvenile Visayan Tarictic Hornbill, black masked lovebirds, African lovebirds, Crysted Myna, Blue-Crowned Raquet-tail, Philippine Hawk Owl, Coletos, Java Sparrow, Tarantula, and Red-ear Slider Turtle.

These wildlife species were being sold along Magallanes Street, Corner Apitong and Escario streets, Urgello Street, Aboitiz Street in Barangay Camputhaw, and in barangays Guadalupe, Basak San Nicolas and Tisa, all in Cebu City; and at J Center Mall in Bakilid, Mandaue City. 

These areas are identified as “hotspots” in the rampant smuggling of endangered bird species in the region.

Llamedo said the suspects failed to show a permit to sell the endangered species, and were, thus, arrested and the species confiscated.

The provision states that anyone who is involved in illegal trading and selling of any wildlife species will be imprisoned for two to four years and is mandated to pay a fine of P5,000 to P300,000. 

It further states that mere possession of endangered wildlife species is an automatic felony punishable by a jail term of up to two years and a fine of not more than P20,000. Involvement in illegal trade of endangered species also carries a penalty of two years imprisonment and a fine of P200,000.

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DENR-7 director Isabelo Montejo said they will not stop until people stop catching and selling endangered species. 

He said the cases filed are proof that they are true to their mandate in eliminating illegal wildlife traders. 

“This is a reminder that we are seriously and critically pursuing our mandate of protecting our wildlife because they play a very important support system for our existence and we should endeavor to co-exist with them,” he said. 

He warned against poachers who try to smuggle wildlife species. 

“We will not hesitate to implement the full force of the law against those who engage in illegal trading, collection and possession of wildlife species,” he said. 

Montejo said wildlife monitoring units in airports and seaports are already alerted 24 hours a day. 

Part of the agency’s continued efforts towards wildlife protection is the regular conduct of thorough intelligence gathering around certain establishments, pet shops or other similar places that are selling or trading wildlife species without permits from DENR.  —(FREEMAN)