ILOILO City – A man was arrested on Sunday in an entrapment operation at Jereos Street, La Paz district for selling endangered birds.
The suspect, Franz Leonard of Barangay San Nicolas, Oton, Iloilo, was taken to the La Paz police station.
According to Major Janvier Gilza, station chief of the Iloilo Maritime Police Station, the operation was carried out at 1:30 p.m. in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel.
“We transacted with the suspect to buy a parrot for P15,000. After our undercover officer handed over the payment near La Paz plaza, we immediately arrested him,” Gilza told Panay News.
Police and DENR personnel recovered 14 more birds from the suspect’s van, including three Walden’s Hornbills, five Visayan Tarictic Hornbills, and six Colasisi Green Racket-Tail Parrots, all of which are considered endangered species.
The recovered birds are now in the custody of the DENR, while the suspect will be charged with violating Section 27, Paragraph E of Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001) and Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
Gilza said the suspect had been under police surveillance for over a month after receiving a tip that he was selling endangered birds.
An entrapment operation was organized after the suspect agreed to meet in the La Paz area.
The suspect claimed to have a supplier but refused to disclose further information./PN
