Dried seahorses, bird's nests seized at Chinese drugstore in Binondo

NBI operatives swooped down in Binondo, Manila on Monday and arrested a businessman after stocks of dried seahorses and bird's nests were found in his Chinese drugstore, according to a report by Rida Reyes on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

Arrested was Ki Yung Wong who will face charges for violating the Fisheries Code and the Philippine Wildlife Act.

The NBI Environmental Crimes Division conducted an entrapment operation and found hundreds of dried seahorses in the store. These were being sold at P60,000 per kilo.

A joint NBI-BFAR raid at a drugstore along Salazar Street in Binondo, Manila, on Monday, March 18, 2019, resulted in the seizure of dried endangered seahorses. Powdered seahorses are exported to other parts of Asia and are believed to be an aphrodisiac and are said to give youthful appearance to those who take it regularly. Danny Pata

According to Ohjee Cabilogan, technical staff of the law enforcement division of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the population of seahorses is running low.

"Ang kanilang bilang sa wild ay mababa na. So 'yung reproduction niyan, recruitment is mas mababa na siya. So darating ang panahon, mawawala na siya," he said.

The saleslady at the store said both Chinese and Filipinos buy seahorses for use as treatment for asthma and cough.

Boxes of bird's nests were also found in the store. These were being sold from P17,000 to P45,000 per container.

Some of the bird's nests were from Palawan where birds producing such nests are considered protected species. 

"Considered siya actually as delicacy. Usually nilalagay siya sa soup. 'Yung collection o possession of bird's nest kailangang pa rin ng permit from the DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources]," Dr. Steven Toledo of the law enforcement of the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau said.

Golden chicken fern

NBI operatives also arrested businesswoman Elizabeth Rivera who owned a fruit and plant stand in Binondo.

She was caught selling golden chicken fern, a plant endemic to the Cordillera Region and considered as endangered. Its sale is thus prohibited.

Golden chicken fern is said to be used as topical ointment for wounds.

Atty. Eric Nuqui, chief of the NBI Environmental Crimes Division, urged the public to stop buying and selling endangered species.

"Huwag po nating tangkilikin ang pagbili at pagbebenta ng seahorse, pati na ang iba pang mga endangered species. Whether or not may medicinal effect ito is another matter. What is being regulated is 'yung talagang sale atsaka 'yung possession," Nuqui said. —KG, GMA News