By Sam Ramos
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local authorities arrested five individuals, including two Indonesians, for illegally transporting poached wildlife aboard a motorized banca in Davao Oriental earlier this week.
The PCG sub-station in Governor Generoso town acted on a tip from Barangay Pundaguitan Kagawad Ronald Matinao, who reported a suspicious unregistered banca near their village. A joint operation ensued, leading to the discovery of a significant haul of undocumented wildlife.
Upon inspection, authorities found 27 Mollucan Cockatoos, 21 Rainbow Lorikeets, 26 Red Lories, and marsupials such as Northern and Common Spotted Cuscus. The suspects and their boat were brought to the Montserrat Fish Port for investigation before being turned over to the local police.
The confiscated wildlife has been handed over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for proper care and handling.
The illegal wildlife trade remains a significant issue in the Philippines, which serves as a consumer, source, and transit point for such activities. A report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates the trade to be worth around PHP50 billion, factoring in the market value of wildlife and the ecological damage caused by poaching.
Critically endangered species like the Philippine Forest Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle, as well as the vulnerable Palawan Pangolin and Blue-naped Parrot, are among the most targeted in this illegal trade.