210 boxes of budyong seized

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation-7, together with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources, confiscated more than 200 boxes of seashells, locally known as budyong, from Zamboanga.

Led by agent Rey Villordon, the NBI together with PENRO headed by officer-in-charge lawyer Chad Estella, seized 210 boxes of budyong within the premises of Lorenzo Shipping Lines by virtue of a search warrant.

The confiscated items had an estimated amount of P12.6 million. Each box of the seashells was pegged at P60,000.

Villordon said that prior to the application of the search warrant before Regional Trial Court Judge Sylva Paderanga of Branch 16, their office received information that there was a shipment of seashells from Zamboanga to Cebu. The shipment arrived in Cebu on November 18.

Based on the Bill of Lading, Villordon said the sender was Edgar Mendoza from Zamboanga and the consignee was Windell Bisucatan of Mandaue City.

He added that scrap materials were declared in the said bill.

Weiland Mayuga, operation supervisor of Lorenzo Shipping Corporation, said they had no right to open the container van that contained the boxes of seashells as this was sealed.

Villordon said they will conduct an investigation into the matter. They will also investigate the shipping company’s possible involvement in the alleged illegal transaction.

Mendoza and Bisucatan, according to the NBI, will be facing a violation of Section 97 (fishing or taking of rare, threatened or endangered species) of Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

Illegal drugs

In another operation, at least 56 packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia were seized from seven persons, including a retired US Marine, in separate anti-illegal drug operations in Cebu City and Cebu Province on Wednesday.

In a buy-bust operation in Barangay Lamac, Consolacion, Cebu, the police arrested Radney Cañete and Giovani Auman, but failed to apprehend Dante Pilapil, the subject of the operation.

Pilapil was considered as a level three drug pusher who can dispose  200 grams of shabu every week.

The suspect managed to escape after jumping from the window on the second floor of his rented house. Cañete and Auman were found inside and arrested.

The police found five large packs, a medium-sized pack, and seven small packs of suspected shabu and several drug paraphernalia inside Pilapil’s house.

The illegal drugs recovered reportedly weighed 29 grams and have an estimated value of P342,200.

Cañete and Auman are temporarily in custody of the PIB while Pilapil remains at large.

Meanwhile, Ronald Welch, a 58-year-old American national, was arrested for malicious mischief and violation of Section 12 of Republic Act 9165, Wednesday afternoon inside his room at Executive Royal Inn in Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City.

Welch’s four other visitors namely Merrycris Sabelano, 22; Mercy Lansang, 27; Fatima Abendan, 26; and Ritz Filipina Diez, were also apprehended for alarm and scandal.

Florence Uy, 34, the inn’s front desk officer, sought police assistance after receiving complaints that Welch and his companions were noisy and already disturbing other guests.

Welch was found to be a retired US Marine and was temporarily staying at the inn.

When the police entered the room occupied by Welch, they reportedly found out that he had already removed and broke two light bulbs.

The police also confiscated two improvised heaters, four strips of aluminum tin foil, a lighter, and an improvised funnel from the foreigner.

The suspects are now detained at Fuente Police Station.  (FREEMAN)