ZAMBOANGA CITY—Tons of corals and shells, which are believed to be part of the smuggled marine products intercepted at Manila port early last month, were uncovered on Saturday night by authorities here.
This came about as Benny Yu, the owner of the warehouse rented by the alleged smuggler of the marine products, allowed the authorities “in good faith” to inspect the warehouse’s compound in sitio Pasay in barangay San Roque.
Yu’s legal counsel Quirino Esguerra Jr. said his client made the decision after one of his trusted workers confided to him that there were movements of cargo from the rented warehouse to a vacant lot at the back of the mini-motorpool at the warehouse’s compound
Senior Supt. Mario Rariza, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-9 chief, coordinated with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) when Esguerra reported to him about his client’s decision to have the warehouse compound inspected.
Rariza accompanied BFAR national director Asis Perez, BFAR regional director Ahadulla Sajili and DENR Protected Area Wildlife Department national director Theresa Lim when the BFAR and DENR officials inspected the warehouse’s compound.
“It is very difficult to count,” Perez said, when asked about the initial estimate of the newly uncovered corals and shells which were packed in sacks and carton boxes.
The sacks and boxes contained black and red corals, trumpet and Helmet shells and others, which Perez believe were ready for shipment.
Perez said the boxes and sacks of corals and shells could fill three 20-foot container vans or more.
Perez disclosed that a piece of black coral is worth $176 in the international market; Lim said red coral commands a higher price since it has medicinal value.
Perez said they have yet to conduct inventory to determine the exact volume and value of the newly uncovered corals and shells.
Edgar Fernandez, Yu’s trusted worker, disclosed he came to know about the movements of cargo when Li tapped him on Wednesday to look for workers “to transfer the cargoes” from the rented warehouse to the vacant lot.
Fernandez said 14 workers transferred the cargoes packed in boxes and sack and were paid P8,000 for the job.
“They started working on Wednesday night and finished at around 3 a.m. on Thursday,” Fernandez added, citing an additional of P2,000 was paid to them when the workers asked for additional payment.
“They dumped this without the knowledge of my client,” Esguerra said.
Esguerra said the warehouse is being rented by the Li and Lim Trading owned by Olivia Li, who is into the business of live marine products.
Li were among the three people who were named as respondents in criminal cases filed by the Bureau of Customs on Friday for violation of the Fisheries Code of the Philippines and the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2011, which prohibit the gathering and transporting or sale of endangered species.
IN PHOTO -- Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-9 chief Senior Supt. Mario Rariza inspects a trumpet shell, which is among the marine products discovered on Saturday night in a warehouse in Zamboanga City. --Bong Garcia Jr.
