ENVIRONMENT Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje underscored the need for public support to win the war against so-called environmental criminals, who continue to engage in the illegal wildlife trade.
Paje said the illicit trade continue to push the country’s endangered species to extinction, appealing to the public to remain vigilant and help authorities stamp out the illegal activities.
He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-led Philippine Operations Group on Ivory and Illegal Wildlife Trade, also known as Task Force Pogi, is stepping up operations against illegal wildlife trade.
However, he said, such effort can be more successful with the support of the people.
He said one way of supporting the campaign against illegal wildlife trade is by simply not patronizing illegal wildlife consumerism.
“The public can assist us in two ways: by being vigilant and reporting suspected illegal traders, and by refusing to buy or own wildlife pets sourced from these illegal traders. And we are grateful that there are those who have already been heeding this call,” Paje said.
“Remember that when there are no buyers, there are no sellers nor poachers. It is also easy to verify the legality of a wildlife trader’s business operation through a certification from the DENR,” he said.
Deputized by the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau, Task Force Pogi and agents of various law-enforcement agencies apprehended two wildlife traders in separate cases involving violations of Republic Act (RA) 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
One of the operations conducted by the Task Force Pogi on September 23 led to the arrest of a certain Jerry Juan of Caloocan City, a tomb caretaker at the Manila North Cemetery who had converted a mausoleum into a bird-breeding center and another into a makeshift aviary.
More than 60 birds of different kinds and species, including the endangered Philippine cockatoo, were confiscated from the suspect.
Another operation mounted on October 5 resulted in the arrest of a certain Artemio Lordan of Calaca, Batangas, and the rescue of a Brahminy Kite, locally known as lawin, that he was selling along Aguinaldo Highway in Alfonso, Cavite.
The two suspects were arrested, following tips from “concerned citizens.” The confiscated birds have been turned over to the nearest wildlife rescue centers of the DENR in Cavite and in Quezon City.
Under RA 9147, 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 carries a penalty of two years imprisonment and a fine of P200,000.