DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued another warning against groups using her name to illegally trade “taklobo” or giant clams.
In an issued statement, Duterte-Carpio said she received information that a group of individuals in Davao Region has been reportedly inviting residents to a meeting regarding taklobo trade.
The mayor clarified she is not involved in the activity.
“That this group is using my name to lure residents into being involved should serve as a strong indicator that this is nothing but a scam out to victimize poor, unsuspecting individuals,” she said.
She also warned the public from these people using her name for “their spurious money-making activities” and urged them to immediately report these kinds of activities to the authorities as these are punishable by law.
In September last year, a group also used the city mayor’s name in an illegal taklobo activities in Calatagan, Batangas.
The mayor said certain middleman in Batangas used name for the taklobo trade using her name to evade arrest in police operations.
“Furthermore, I do not participate, support or condone any criminal activity and have not told anyone to use my name if they are caught by the police, AFP, NBI or any other enforcement organization,” she added.
Duterte-Carpio also reminded the public that under Republic Act 10654, or the Philippine Fisheries Code, harvesting or selling or buying or transporting of taklobo is illegal.
According to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), taklobo is declared an endangered species.
Bfar added taklobo is now in the list of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and determined by Fisheries Administrative Order 208 as endangered.
Bfar also said “fishing or taking, gathering, selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting, exporting, forwarding or shipping out” of taklobo is deemed unlawful under Republic Act 10654, or the Philippine Fisheries Code. (RGL)