DENR, PNP nab bird hunters

The Philippine National Police (PNP) of Candaba in Pampanga in close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) based in Guagua, Pampanga arrested yesterday six suspects for illegal hunting and killing of two bird species of Great egrets in the famous 32,000-hectare Candaba swamp.

 

Laudemir Salac, head of DENR-PENRO Pampanga, said after receiving information from a concerned citizen that a group of people is hunting birds, the DENR and PNP immediately responded and caught the suspects while hunting birds at Barangay Paligui in Candaba town using air rifle.

 

“It is very clear that killing and destroying of wildlife species is illegal and punishable against our wildlife law. We will not tolerate this incident even during this pandemic to protect our migratory birds and other wildlife species since they are vital components of our environment,” he said.

 

He said the protection and conservation of wildlife including birds is very important to maintain a well- balanced ecosystem.

 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Efren David, Jr. of the Candaba PNP identified the suspects as Jaime Buenaventura, Pablo Cunanan, Jose Carlo Dizon, Michael Gamos Vicente Pangan and Rodrigo Canlas, all from Barangay San Joaquin in Sta. Ana, Pampanga.

 

David said that four units of oxygen-powered air rifles, 37 pieces of air gun pellets and two species of dead Great egrets were seized from the suspects.

 

The suspects are now under the custody of the Candaba PNP while criminal charges are being prepared for violation of Section 27 of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources and Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, and Provincial Ordinance No. 756 in relation to Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act of 2018, for not wearing face mask.

 

If found guilty, the suspects may be imprisoned for a maximum of six months and a fine of P100,000.

 

Salac appealed to the public to report to the nearest DENR Office in their area any illegal hunting and wildlife trade or contact DENR hotline at 09453685303.

 

According to DENR, the Great egret scientific Ardea alba or also known as common egret is a frequent migratory bird species in the Candaba swamp which is also found in Africa, America and southern Europe.

 

Candaba swamp has been identified as one of the three “most important wetlands” in the Philippines and has consistently been listed in the Asian Bird Map as an important wintering area for migratory birds.

 

DENR records shows that there are 54 species of resident birds and 68 migratory birds recorded in Candaba wetlands since 1940. Last year, more than 2,000 birds were recorded during the Asian Waterbirds Census.

 

Migratory birds from as far as China, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand prefer the Candaba Swamp as a wintering refuge, feeding and breeding in the area from October to March to escape the cold winter. (-30-)