Green sea turtle rescued in Vizcaya

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Thanks to an engineer, a critically endangered green sea turtle caught in Aurora was spared from being butchered.

Personnel of the provincial environment and natural resources office (PENRO) picked up the three-foot long turtle early yesterday morning from the residence of engineer Purisimo Tiam, who rescued it in Baran—gay Bascaran, Solano town last July 29.

According to the PENRO employees, the green sea turtle (Chelonia Mydas) will be released in the South China Sea in Cagayan "as soon as possible."

Tiam, president of the prominent PLT College here, said he bought the turtle, estimated to be 10 years old, from a villager for P1,500 before it was to be slaughtered.

Tiam quoted the villager as saying that the turtle was caught in the Pacific Sea coast of Aurora and that a relative brought it to him.

Gil Valdez, of the Eco-Gov Philippines here, said the green sea turtle is one of the three turtle species found only in the Philippines. — Charlie Lagasca