PENRO to probe mistreatment of sea turtle

CEBU, Philippines — The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Negros Oriental will be investigating the viral video showing a boy riding on the back of sea turtle, locally known as “pawikan”, in Siaton, Negros Oriental.

According to PENRO Negros Oriental head Viernove Grefalde, they will proceed to the area today to conduct necessary action on the matter and to hear the sides of those seen in the viral video.

“We are as surprised as everybody by the incident. We are directing our CENRO Dumaguete personnel to immediately conduct an investigation,” said Grefalde.

Grefalde added that they will determine if the turtle was intentionally captured by fishermen or accidentally entangled in their nets, which could determine whether or not a violation has occurred.

In the 49-second video, a boy and other individuals are interacting with the turtle after it was reportedly released from a net, which raised concerns to netizens about the handling of wildlife, particularly an endangered species like sea turtles.

Accidental capture of turtles still occurs, and Grefalde pointed out that such incidents are usually reported, with the turtles being released safely back into the sea.

However, in this particular case, concerns were raised because of the boy’s interaction with the turtle, sparking criticism from netizens who questioned the behavior shown in the video.

“Hoy bawal mana inyong gibuhat naunsa wala nalang buhie deritso gi among amongan panang mananap,” a netizen commented on the video, which now has over 420,000 views as of this posting.

The FREEMAN reached out to Siatonism, a Facebook page that shared the video, and the page admin said that the video was sent to them anonymously, and they don’t know the original uploader.

“It was deleted before it went viral on our page… Nawala na ang original videos,” they said.

Grefalde urged coastal communities and fishermen to respect the presence of sea turtles, emphasizing that these creatures are protected by law and play a vital role in maintaining marine ecosystems.

“Ang pawikan ug uban pang mananap atong giprotektaran para sa kaugmaon natong tanan,” said Grefalde.

He also highlighted the need for increased awareness among residents, asking them to avoid interacting with or disturbing turtles, especially during nesting season.

These sea turtles frequent shorelines, like those in Negros Oriental, to nest or search for food, often coming close to shore during these activities.

PENRO also encouraged locals to immediately report incidents involving wildlife to barangay officials, the municipality, or the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources to ensure proper handling and release of the animals.

Green sea turtles are classified as endangered, with populations continuing to decline globally and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species recognizes them as a priority for conservation.

Moreover, the agency reminded the public that any unauthorized handling or harassment of wildlife, particularly endangered species, could result in penalties under Philippine environmental laws.

Republic Act No. 9147, known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, outlines the government’s commitment to preserving the country’s wildlife and their natural habitats for long-term sustainability.

Under Section 2 of the act, it says, “To conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity.” — /BRP (FREEMAN)