DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said that illegal wildlife traders have become more brazen since the pandemic began, but assured that the DENR remains vigilant to protect the biodiversity.
TWO wildlife traffickers found themselves behind bars after they were arrested in wildlife enforcement operations by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( DENR).
The DENR Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force (EPETF) said suspects Rendel Santos, 21, and Alvin Santos, 48, were collared for illegal possession and selling of two umbrella cockatoos (Cacatua alba) at Barangay Pagala in Baliuag, Bulacan last May 2.
The DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Baliuag, Bulacan said the suspects were not issued a permit to transport the cockatoos.
The Umbrella cockatoo is listed under Appendix II of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which means that the species is not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.
It also includes so-called "look-alike species", or species whose specimens in trade look like those of species listed for conservation reasons.
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said the arrest of the suspects is part of the department's renewed commitment to "conserve specific terrestrial and marine areas representative of the Philippine natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations" amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We will continue to apprehend these illegal wildlife traders whether we have a pandemic or not.
" This is what the DENR can always assure the public," Cimatu said.
Cimatu added that illegal wildlife traders have become more brazen since the pandemic began, but assured that the DENR remains vigilant to protect the biodiversity.
Criminal charges will be filed against the suspects for violating Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Protection and Conservation Act of 2001. (SC)
Tags: #DepartmentofEnvironmentandNaturalResources, #wildlife, #wildlifetrafficking, #environment