WHO has the authority to apprehend traders allegedly selling endangered species in Cebu City?
According to City Veterinarian Dr. Alice Utlang, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the City Enviroment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) are the offices that should look into the matter.
However, Utlang emphasized that although the City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) is not authorized by the DENR to handle matters on wildlife resources and conservation, they are willing to undergo training to become wildlife enforcement officers.
The pronouncement was in response to the City Council’s request, dated April 3, for DVMF to go after traders allegedly selling endangered fish on Magallanes St.
In her letter to the council, dated April 13, Utlang said they have been coordinating with DENR on the reported operation of the illegal business in the area.
“In fact years ago, in one of the seminars facilitated by the office when we invited a DENR personnel to lecture on this matter, we informed them on the presence of said trade in Magallanes. Currently, this matter is also coordinated with Probe (Prevention, Restoration, Beautification and Order) since the trade takes place on the sidewalk,” reads portion of the letter.
Utlang said that the DVMF should first be given authority by the DENR, or they will be violating Republic Act (RA) 9147.
Section 30 of RA 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act provides the deputation of wildlife enforcement officers.
These officers are authorized to seize illegally traded wildlife and arrest violators.
“However, deputation takes process and as I have gleaned upon, the matter herein demands urgency. The better way to address, I suggest, is to request CCENRO, DENR and Probe instead,” Utlang added. (RTF)