Palace vows to file raps vs coral destroyers, turtle smugglers

MANILA, Philippines -  Malacañang vowed yesterday to charge in court the people responsible for the destruction and smuggling of turtles and sea corals.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said marine patrols would be stepped up following the seizure of 158 stuffed sea turtles and about 124,000 pieces of coral valued at about $80,000.

“(We are) appalled because the plundering of our marine resources shows much remains to be done to safeguard our marine biodiversity,” he said.

“The monetary value of the black coral and sea turtles confiscated in the Port of Manila is tiny compared to the ecological devastation they represent - hundreds, possibly thousands, of hectares of coral reefs and all the ecological complexity they represent, either killed or seriously damaged.”

Lacierda said the corals and turtles were apparently stolen from the pristine waters of the Moro Gulf and the Sulu Sea.

“It is our duty to safeguard these areas,” he said.

Lacierda said the government is striving to improve defense capabilities to protect its territorial waters and marine resources.

“We expect the appropriate government officials to take the necessary actions on that, with respect to the contraband,” he said.

Lacierda said Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje would take charge of the operation to ensure that the destruction and smuggling of the country’s marine resources would not happen again.

“But again, we have a problem of policing our archipelagic seas; that’s a concern for us,” he said.

“So, we need to beef up our resources. And to that extent, the President, in the meeting with Chinese military officials, also mentioned that we are beefing up our aircraft and also our boats.

“Like the President already mentioned, we will receive a Hamilton Class Cutter which will be part of (our forces) policing the archipelagic seas. So, that’s one of the ways we can improve further the policing of our seas.”

Lacierda said the government is acquiring more patrol boats to guard the country’s territory and resources.

“That’s part of the modernization efforts of our military,” he said.