Millions worth of endangered shells intercepted; 3 arrested

CEBU, Philippines -  Three persons were arrested Thursday evening after a truckload of endangered shells, estimated to worth millions of pesos, were intercepted at a checkpoint in Barangay Batad Viejo of Batad town in Iloilo.

The arrested suspects were identified as Christopher Mancia, 31, who was the driver of the truck (license plate YFJ-462), Cipriano Umbrero, 53, and Rene Boy Rusiana, 38, all from San Carlos City of Negros Occidental.

Combined operatives of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office's intelligence branch, the PNP Regional Maritime Office and the Batad Police Office, together with personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, were able to intercept 95 sacks of helmet shells (locally known as budyong) and smooth top shells.

There were 1,708 pieces of budyong shells and 616 pieces of smooth top shells. Both types of shell are considered endangered.

Senior Inspector Joven Arevalo, Batad Police chief, said the budyong, once cleaned and polished, could be sold at P1,500 per piece. If shipped to the United States or Europe, a budyong shell could fetch an estimated price of US$5,000. These shells are usually used for decorative purposes.

The three suspects claimed that the truck was owned by a certain Zosima Matinga of Barangay Bulwangan in San Carlos City, but a certain Diosa Hechanova allegedly hired them to get the stocks of shells from Estancia town in Iloilo.

Arevalo said the shells were taken from the waters of Masbate province and Higantes Island in Carles, Iloilo and will be exported to mainland China.

Criminal charges will be filed against the alleged traders and the arrested suspects for violation of Section 97, Republic Act No. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998).

The law, or the Fishing Or Taking of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species and Fisheries Administrative Order No. 158 series of 1986, prohibits the gathering, taking, collecting, selling, transporting, or possession for sale of mollusks belonging to the genus Triton or Charonia and Cassis."  (FREEMAN)