Pasay City pet shop owner arrested for selling endangered wildlife

Police and personnel from the Biodiversity Management Bureau seized illegally-traded wildlife in a raid on a house in Pasay City.

The raiding team found animals like the Philippine sailfin lizard, blue-tongued skinks, and Palawan Hill Mynahs in the backyard and basement of the house, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported Thursday.

Also found during the raid were an elongated tortoise, a white-bellied sea eagle, a Palawan hornbill, and a black palm cockatoo.

Water in the basement was used to soundproof the house, the report said.



According to Senior Superintendent John Guyguyin, head of the Philippine National Police Anti-Transnational Crimes Unit, it is difficult to track illegal operations like this because business is done through text.

"Meron tayo kasing markets talaga diyan, so 'yun yung medyo mahirap. Yung supply and demand din yung nagdi-dictate," Guyguyin added.

Abraham Bernales, the owner of the house, had reportedly been a long-time resident of Bgy. 188 Zone 20, but Barangay Chairperson Herminia Flores said they didn't know of his illegal activities.

"Sabi ng tanod ko, ang napupuna niya lang dito, mga malalakas ang tugtog. Siguro para masabayan na hindi marinig," she said.

"Ang alam ko lang may pet shop sila. Hindi ko rin alam na bawal ito," the caretaker of the house, who refused to be identified, said in the report.

Benales was arrested in Cartimar market, where he runs a pet shop..

Bernales, who will be charged with violating the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, admitted to housing and selling the animals.

"Yun, iniwan lang sa akin yun. Yung bayawak. (Ng) taga Palawan," he said, adding he is just a hobbyist.

He said that he runs a pet shop but that he sometimes sells wildlife. "Minsan. Pag season, hindi natin mawala 'yan," he said.

He added he is not the only one in the wildlife trade.

"(Mga galing) China, bakit di hulihin 'yun? Yung mga Vietnamese. Yung mga namimili 'yan."

The penalty for trading in wildlife ranges from a minimum of 10 days in prison and a fine of P200 to a maximum of four years in prison and a fine of P300,000 depending on the conservation status of the species of wildlife traded.

The BMB, formerly known as the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, took custody of the rescued animals. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News