DENR to probe illegal ivory trade

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued a memorandum that ordered the DENR Region 7 in Cebu to look into a report of illegal ivory smuggling in the country.

Director Mundita Lim of the DENR’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje already gave instruction for the DENR-Region 7 to check on the alleged ivory collection of Msgr. Cristobal Garcia.

Quoting a National Geographic report, Lim said Garcia has religious statues whose heads and hands are made of ivory. She said the DENR will also coordinate with Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma regarding the report.

“This is the first time that we’ve received such kind of report that illegal ivory or elephant tusks are being used to create religious figures and are collected. Before, we’re used to reports of confiscation of illegal elephant tusks in airport and seaport,” she said.

The National Bureau of Investigation will conduct a separate probe.

Meanwhile, Msgr. Jose Barrion, chairman of the Cultural Heritage Committee of the diocese of San Pablo, Laguna, defended Garcia.

“These are centuries-old statues acquired by the old rich… These ivory icons are not recently made,” Barrion, who is also the rector of Diocesan Shrine of Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre said.

He said the ivory icons might have been acquired long before the law on ivory trading was implemented.

The ivory trade was banned under a 1989 United Nations Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species to help the elephant population recover. – Rhodina Villanueva, Helen Flores, Sandy Araneta