Illegal monkey keepers face raps — DENR

MANILA, Philippines — Those keeping monkeys without permits face prosecution, according to an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Maria Paz Luna, DENR-Calabarzon director, issued the warning yesterday after a photo of a monkey kept in a cage in the compound of  St. Gregory parish in Indang, Cavite went viral.

The Facebook account of DENR-Calabarzon was flooded with messages asking the agency to rescue the monkey.

“We will start prosecuting those who keep monkeys,” Luna said.

“We will work with private keepers of endangered and critically endangered animals... We can work with them on release programs to help in the conservation (of the animals),” Luna added.

Personnel of the Cavite Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), who checked the monkey, were told that a private citizen brought the monkey to parish priest Alex Tupas for custody and safekeeping two years ago.

Elegia Tulio, PENRO-Cavite compliance monitoring unit chief, said the previous keeper of the monkey went to Mindanao.

“The monkey was well-taken cared of and maintained, including the facility, contrary to posts on social media,” Tulio said.

Tupas agreed to surrender the monkey to the DENR-Calabarzon wildlife rescue center.