BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO City — A truck driver has been charged with violation of the Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550) for transporting P2.5 million worth of endangered sea shells.
Batad, Iloilo policemen caught the driver and his two companions while loading the shells on Thursday.
Driver Christopher Mancia and companions Cipriano Ombrero and Rene Rusiana are now detained at the Batad police station. They were charged with the crime Friday before the provincial prosecutor’s office.
Inspector Joven Arevalo, Batad police chief, said that under Section 97 of Republic Act 8550, it is unlawful to fish or take care of threatened or endangered species.
The police intercepted about P2.5-million worth of endangered seashells in a six-wheeler truck driven by Mancia on July 31 around 6:30 p.m.
Arevalo said the shells were bought from sources at P30 each. They could be sold at P1,500 each as finished products.
On the other hand, Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, said they had received information on said endangered seashells.
He then ordered the Batad police station, IPPO intelligence operatives and Maritime Unit 6 to put up checkpoints.
The seized Isuzu truck had 1,708 pieces of helmet shells and 616 pieces of smooth top shells, according to an inventory done by a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources examiner.
The shells came from Masbate. Batad was the “dropping point” from where they would be shipped to buyers./PN
