735 rare helmet shells seized in Bantayan, Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Authorities seized at least 735 pieces of rare helmet shells, also known as budyong, in Bantayan on Thursday.

The Maritime Law Enforcement Team, Bantay Dagat and the Municipal Agriculturist-Fisheries Office have jointly conducted an operation in Sitio Tabunok, Barangay Lipayran, Bantayan where the helmet shells considered as endangered species were confiscated.

With an estimated amount of P365,000, the shells were put inside 48 sacks and were reportedly abandoned in the seashore.

The items will be turned over by the Maritime Police to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional office in Cebu City.

Republic Act (RA) 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code, as amended by RA 10654 on the Fishing or Taking of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species provides that offenders shall be penalized with administrative fines, ranging from P500,000 to P5 million and/or upon conviction by a court of law, punished by imprisonment of 12 to 20 years plus twice the administrative fine.

Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 158 prohibits the gathering, taking, collecting, selling, transporting, or possessing for sale of mollusks to the genus triton or Charonia and Cassis.

Bantayan Mayor Arthur Despi warned violators that authorities will go after them if they continue doing illegal activities.

Illegal drugs

Meanwhile, four suspected drug pushers were arrested in separate operations conducted by Minglanilla police Friday evening.

At around 6:55 p.m. in Purok Tulingan, Barangay Tungkop, Fernando Placibe Mendez alias Jr., 36, was arrested with two sachets of suspected shabu.

At 8:15 p.m., Manuel Cañas Cantiveros alias Etoo, 54, was arrested in Purok Dolphin, Barangay Tungkop with eight sachets of suspected shabu.

At 9:30 p.m., the police arrested Rolan Urtezua Ycot alias Lando, 30, in Purok Bangus, Barangay Tungkop with 10 sachets of suspected shabu.

The last operation was conducted at around 10:55 p.m. in Sitio Upper, Barangay Linao-Lipata where Almer Lumile Langres alias Mokie, 42, a resident of Barangay Ermita, Cebu City, was arrested with eight sachets of suspected shabu. — Banat News, GMR (FREEMAN)