NBI, DENR probing ivory trade

 CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 will conduct a joint investigation into the alleged ivory trade in Cebu.

DENR Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said he called for a coordinating conference with the officials and members of the NBI yesterday to discuss their moves on the matter.

He said NBI will be the lead agency in the investigation while DENR will assist and share information.

He added the scope of the investigation will be nationwide.

They will also not focus only on Msgr. Cristobal Garcia. Antique owners and ivory collectors will also be subject of their investigation.

They will schedule an ocular inspection in churches and in the shrine in Talisay City where Garcia used to serve.

Garcia has been suspended since June because of his child abuse case in the United States more than two decades ago.

Montejo said they might be tapping the services of the National Museum to determine if the icons and sculptures that they will examine are made of ivory as his office does not have the capability to do this.

Montejo said experts from the National Museum can also identify if an icon is antique or  new.

Montejo said granting that the icons in Cebu were made of ivory, he is certain that these were from Manila and the local collectors only bought the finished products.

Montejo said it is also best to tap the Bureau of Customs National Office in Manila.

Montejo said the NBI will invite Garcia to shed light on the issue and to trace the source of his ivory collection.

But since Garcia is confined in a hospital in Manila, he will ask their head office to send someone to talk to the monsignor.

Montejo said the article published in a National Geographic that named Garcia as one of the sources was “exaggerated” and unfair to the Province of Cebu.

National Geographic’s cover story for its October issue titled Ivory Worship is an investigative report on the smuggling of elephant tusks in the country as well as in China and Thailand.

It says that ivory trading flourished because religion is a big market considering that the tusks are carved into religious icons.  The smuggling of elephant tusks caused the death of thousands of elephants in Africa. — /MBG (FREEMAN)