Thursday, August 14, 2008 Turtle eggs for sale seized
COMBINED agriculture, environment and police authorities have seized Tuesday more than 230 pieces of illegally collected turtle eggs that are being sold at the local waterfront market.
City Agriculture's Office wildlife division chief Godofredo Oliveria said the turtle eggs were confiscated from the vendors while his composite team was conducting an ocular inspection at the waterfront market.
The two vendors Adzmer Hadula and Ain Mirador were released without penalty but were warned against repetition of the same offense.
The 230 pieces confiscated turtle eggs have an estimated market value of P1,840. It is sold at P8.30 each.
Oliveria said the gathering and sale of turtle eggs are prohibited and penalized under Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. It aims to conserve the country's wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainability.
He said the law provides that no person or entity shall be allowed possession, distribution, or sale of wildlife and its products, and threatened wildlife possessed without certificate of registration shall be confiscated in favor of the government subject to penalties provided in said statute. (BPG)
