Animals seized from Pasig pet ‘exhibit’

MANILA, Philippines - Government agents confiscated animals, including some endangered species, during a raid on an exhibit featuring exotic pets in Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City Sunday.

Among the animals turned over to the main office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were an albino Burmese python; 1,249 tarantulas of various sizes; 158 scorpions; 28 imported frogs; four gerbils and five geckos, according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Jose Hidalgo Jr.

Police officers and DENR wildlife enforcers made no arrests when they enforced a mission order issued by the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau just before 6 p.m. Sunday. 

Hidalgo said DENR enforcer Rogelio Demelletes Jr. coordinated with his office to set up the raid following reports on social media that the exhibit’s organizer sold imported animals, including endangered species.