DENR tracks down illegal wildlife traders online
Illegal wildlife traders who use the internet for their illegal activities are being monitored.
This was the warning issued by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu to culprits who are taking advantage of the internet for their illegal activities.
Cimatu issued the warning following the arrest of a certain Benjie Saunar for illegal possession and selling of two Umbrella cockatoos (Cacatua alba) in a buy-bust operation conducted by the DENR’s Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force (EPETF).
The operatives also recovered a Palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) from the suspect’s possession.
“Mobility restrictions may cause some deterrence to our wildlife enforcers, but these shall not stop them from implementing environmental laws to protect our natural resources,” Cimatu said.
The DENR- EPETF operatives monitored Saunar to have been selling illegal wildlife species online which prompted them to conduct the buy-bust operation.
The DENR EPETF in coordination with the Manila Police District Station 8 and Manila District Anti-Cybercrime Team led by Maj. Reynaldo Salim arrested the suspect in an entrapment operation conducted last April 28 in a gasoline station in Sta. Mesa.
During the operation, Saunar failed to present any relevant permits such as a Certificate of Wildlife Registration or Wildlife Farm Permit and Local Transport Permit to support and prove that he is authorized by law to possess, transport and trade wildlife.
Saunar was charged with violating Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Protection and Conservation Act of 2001 before the Manila Prosecutor’s Officer.
Section 23 of RA 9147 states that collection of threatened wildlife, including the by-products and derivatives, shall be allowed only for scientific, or breeding or propagation purposes, and provided that only the accredited individuals, business, research, educational or scientific entities shall be allowed to collect for conservation breeding or propagation purposes.
The wildlife species, along with other paraphernalia such as the motorcycle and cellphone used by Saunar, are now under the custody of the DENR-National Capital Region Office,
