CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has asked for proof of ownership from claimants of 30 endangered wildlife species confiscated in a joint regular monitoring in Barangay Kotkot, Liloan, Cebu.
DENR 7 has issued the notices to Aristotle Binabaye, the owner of the eight heads of assorted bird species, and to the unknown owner of 23 bird species and a long-tailed juvenile Philippine Macaque or monkey.
Each of the notices is valid for 15 days or until September 30, 2013 for the claimant to provide DENR-7 with his papers or permits on each individual species.
The DENR-7 and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 have recovered last September 6 the threatened species in a joint operation.
DENR 7 Regional Executive Director, Dr. Isabelo Montejo, said that posting of notices is part of the due process based on the existing laws, rules and regulations before a final seizure order shall be made.
“Any claims submitted beyond September 30 shall no longer be honored and these wildlife species shall be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government without prejudice of filing a case for violating Republic Act 9147,†Montejo said.
Montejo said that illegal trade of endangered species is penalized by a fine of P200,000 and a jail term of two years while the killing of endangered animals carries the penalty of imprisonment of six years and a fine of P500,000. (FREEMAN)