THREE suspected illegal wildlife poachers were arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in an entrapment operation on Friday, June 5, in Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City.
The suspects were identified as Ramel Cabale, 45, Ruzzel Taghoy, 27, and Dexter Belleza, 36, all of Barangay Minoyan, Murcia.
Among the wildlife recovered are Philippine orange tarantula, Orphnaecus sp., assorted centipedes and millipedes, juvenile Philippine sailfin lizards, Negros forest dragon (gecko), Bornean anglehead lizards and north Philippine temple pit vipers.
Other animals like the Asian palm civet, two Negros forest dragons, sailfin lizard and anglehead lizard were already dead upon retrieval.
They were properly buried at Cenro Bago grounds.
Investigators believe that the wild animals recovered from the suspects were collected from Mount Kanlaon Natural Park.
The operation, led by Police Chief Master gt. Ramiro Gocotano, OIC of CIDG- Bacolod, said they agreed to pay P150,000 for all the animals which is the asking price of the dealer for all the wildlife.
Gocotano said the three suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.
The surviving animals were released back into the wild at an undisclosed location in a protected area in the province on Saturday.