CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Two vendors were arrested by the wildlife enforcement team of the provincial office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday, September 7, 2020, for illegally selling 11 live Luzon monitor lizards, locally known as “bayawak,” along the highway of Sasmuan road in Pampanga.
Laudemir Salac, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (Penro) of the DENR in Pampanga, identified the suspects as Ariel Torres and Daniel Sioco, both from Barangay San Nicolas in Lubao, Pampanga.
They were caught in the act for illegal selling Luzon monitor lizards (scientific: Varanus marmoratus).
“Collecting, hunting or possessing and trading of wildlife without necessary permit from the DENR is prohibited under the law. We need to protect and conserve our wildlife species instead of selling them. They are important biodiversity and vital to our ecosystem,” he explained.
He said that the suspects were selling the wildlife ranging from P400 to P700 per piece depending on its size, which came from a fishpond in Lubao town here and in Bataan province. The suspects have also removed the teeth of the wildlife, he added.
The wildlife was turned over to an accredited wildlife rescue center in Clark Freeport Zone to undergo care and rehabilitation.
If found guilty, the suspects may be imprisoned up to one year and a maximum fine of P1 million, depending on the species, for violating Section 27 of the Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, according to Michael Lopez, wildlife officer of DENR regional office.
Paquito Moreno, executive director of the DENR, warned the public to avoid human-wildlife interaction that can lead to zoonotic diseases and the next pandemic.
“Bayawak is favorite for its meat as exotic food and as a pet,” he said.
He also appealed to the public to report illegal wildlife trade and other wildlife crimes to the nearest DENR field office in their area.
Since 2015, the DENR has saved 245 various wildlife species from illegal trade and filed criminal charges against 17 individuals.
Bayawak is a large species of monitor lizard, which can reach a total length of two meters. It belongs to the family Varanidae and is endemic to the Philippines.