3 nabbed for P1.65 M endangered animals
ILOILO CITY — Three workers of a Fil-Chinese businessmen were arrested Wednesday morning at Estancia, Iloilo where endangered marine species were seized from their possession.
Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office's Special Operations Group (IPPO-SOG) and the Estancia Police Station arrested the three suspects Rosalie Medina, Jovin Mangubat, and Rolito Torres during an operation against BB Marine, a company engaged in buying and selling marine products.
Chief Inspector Jonathan Pinuela, IPPO-SOG chief, said Medina acted as the secretary while the two were incharge of the operation. The company is reportedly owned by a certain Steve Lim of Bacolod City.
Seized from the three were 19 kilos of assorted dried seahorse and sea dragon with market value of around P1.5 million, and 16 sacks of nautilus shells with an estimated market value of P150,000.
Pinuela said the dried seahorse are bought at P35,000 and are sold at P70,000. "The dried seahorses and sea dragon are processed and made into exotic food and is believed to be an aphrodisiac," he added.
It is believed that they have Chinese restaurants as their main buyers. Residents in the islets and islands of Estancia and neighboring coastal towns are believed to be selling the endangered marine species.
Pinuela said they have yet to determine how long Lim's company has been doing the "illegal trade." Lim and his three workers will be charged for violating the fisheries law.