Third haul this month: P2M worth of corals found abandoned

CEBU, Philippines - Gov. Garcia warns Punta Engaño barangay officials of charges for dereliction of duty around P2 million worth of rare corals were abandoned at the coastal barangay of Sitio Sinalikway in Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday morning.

Punta Engaño Barangay Councilor Josie Hayashi told reporters they were informed of the presence of corals at the place so she and barangay tanods rushed to the area.

Hayashi said no one came forward to admit ownership of the corals, but she believes that the owner escaped before they arrived.

According to Hayashi, they received the information at around 9:30 a.m. yesterday. They believe the corals were brought to the area early yesterday morning.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who attended the two-day Visayan Sea Summit at Shangrila Hotel, rushed to the place with officials and members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force.

Governor Garcia told reporters that the task force is now trying to identify the owners of the abandoned corals for the filing of charges.

She also said barangay officials might faces charges for dereliction of duty for failing to detect illegally harvested corals.

Garcia said the abandoned corals, which weighed more than a ton, included “endangered” species.

The governor said she instructed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter and file the necessary charges against those involved.

Officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources who accompanied Garcia said that the corals, estimated to be more than P2 million, is for export.

Lawyer Antonio Oposa, on the other hand, said the confiscation of the corals coincided with the closing ceremony of the two-day summit. He said this is an eye opener to the people especially in Lapu-Lapu City.

Oposa said residents in Barangay Punta Engaño should stand up and identify the people behind this business.

Last week, the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force and barangay officials, seized 11 sacks of acropora and pocillopora corals in Sitio Kolo, also in barangay Punta Engaño.

The corals were confiscated Sunday afternoon from a beachside lot at Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City.

The corals had been cleaned and were most likely about to get crushed to be used as filling material.

Removing corals is a violation of the Republic Act 8550, the Fisheries Code of 1998.

Last week, charges were filed against Barangay Punta Engaño Captain Lourdes Ibag, who was arrested after being caught allegedly exporting rare corals and shells from her home.

Last Sunday, corals were also abandoned at the coastal barangay Punta Engaño, but no one was arrested. — (FREEMAN)