Environmental Law Enforcers Score 3rd Blow Against Poachers
Palawan NGO Network Inc. [PNNI], led by Mr. Bobby Dantic, in partnership with the Philippine National Police [PNP] and the barangay law enforcement team of Sibaltan, caught 2 poachers at Sitio Mayetmet, Sibaltan, El Nido, Palawan on August 20, 2011, at around 2PM, as they try to ship wildlife illegally from Quezon, Palawan to Batangas.
The suspects, George Bolante and Armando Llaneta, both from Quezon, Palawan, were arrested by SPO1 Jason Cahilig and PO3 Richard Rodriguez. They also confiscated 16 talking mynas from them. Unfortunately, 2 other poachers escaped into the forest of Sibaltan carrying 14 more mynas.
Afterwards, PNNI rangers filed a criminal case against the suspects for violating Republic Act 9146 [also known as the Wildlife Act]. PNNI once again thanked their partners in protecting East El Nido, the barangay environmental law enforcers under the watch of Rev Fr. Edgardo Parino, parish priest of Sta. Putencia Parish, for making the surveillance on wildlife piracy operation in Sibaltan. Barangay Tanods, headed by their Chief Benedicto Cabiguen, and Global Legal Action on Climate Change [GLACC] volunteer Perfecto Baluarte, Jr. are part of the said team.
Recently, on August 6, personnel of El Nido Environmental Law Enforcement Council apprehended 4 poachers and confiscated 71 mynas, 42 parrots and 1 cockatoo. The same team seized mangrove snakes on board a bus bound named Sweety on August 18. It seems the month of August was an unlucky month for wildlife poachers. Or maybe, they just thought that wildlife watchers in El Nido were not prepared for their arrival.
