A Philippine eagle was sighted perching on a tree in Barangay Sallab, Magpet, Cotabato.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN (DENR-12), an informant reported that some poachers were targeting the eagle.

A team from Wildlife Resources and Conservation (WRC) Unit of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and LAWIN foot patrollers was sent to verify the report.

The team was able to record the sighting of the eagle.

DENR-12 said around 392 pairs of Philippine eagles are left in the wild, according to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

“The Philippine Eagle is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) in the DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2019-09 and by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),” DENR-12 said.

DENR-12 has issued an advisory regarding the unlawful killing and hunting of eagles, which are a violation of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147).

Those who are found guilty of killing eagles may be imprisoned for a maximum of 12 years while those who will be found guilty for hunting may face imprisonment for two to four years and will be made to pay a fine.

“The Philippine eagle, a critically endangered species, is protected by legislation to preserve its existence within its natural habitat. Consequently, any harm or threat to this revered avian species will be met with stringent legal repercussions,” DENR-12 said.

“The Philippine Eagle serves as an apex predator and a keystone species at the top of the Philippine ecological pyramid. The primary threat to the species stems from habitat loss, predominantly due to extensive deforestation across its habitat range,” DENR-12 added.