Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) — Around 300 wildlife animals, some of which were already dead, were seized in a recent entrapment operation in Bacolod City.
Three suspects were arrested and identified as Ramil Cabale, 45; Ruzzel Taghoy, 27; and Dexter Belleza, 36, all residents of neighboring town of Murcia in Negros Occidental, a report from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bacolod said.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod conducted the operation last Friday after they traced the suspects through Facebook selling wildlife animals on a secret buy-and-sell group of the social networking site.
The suspects sold the animals, kept in plastic bottles and sacks, to the poseur-buyer for ₱150,000.
CIDG-Bacolod reported that the suspects failed to show documents that they were authorized to possess or sell the wildlife animals.
The 300 wild animals, including the Asian palm civet, Philippine orange tarantula, tarantula, assorted centipedes and millipedes, Philippine sailfin lizards, Negros forest dragon (gecko), and north Philippine temple pit vipers, are believed to have been collected from the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park.
Twelve Asian palm civet, Negros forest dragons, and sailfin lizards were already dead upon retrieval and were properly buried at the City Environment and Natural Resources Office in Bago City, Negros Occidental.
The poachers will be charged for violating Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
