PIA Press Release
Tuesday, January 10, 2012Wildlife trafficking suspect in Puerto Princesa arrestedPUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- Combined elements of the National Bureau of Investigation, city police and the Special Operations Group of the city government arrested yesterday the suspect in last week’s shipments of anteater meat and scales and turtle scutes. City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn presented to the media this morning Yinfan Huang, an undocumented Chinese national at a press conference at the Asturias Hotel this city. Hagedorn said the arrest was done through the coordination and cooperation of the three law enforcement agencies which conducted surveillance at the suspect’s residence in barangay San Jose, located five kms. north from the center of the city. “This is a warning to all those who connive with the wildlife traffickers, yung mga bumibili, mga nanghuhuli na hindi namin palalampasin ang ganitong kalaspatangan sa kalikasan,” Hagedorn said. Atty. Rosauro Bautista, NBI-Palawan chief, told the press conference that the suspect had travelled all over the province particularly in such towns as El Nido, Quezon, and Taytay to buy and collect bird’s nest, anteater scales and meat, and some banned marine animals like sea turtles, and endangered shells. He said the suspect had been staying in the province for some time, knows Tagalog, and was able to secure a driver’s license from the Land Transportation Office. Bautista said his office was working closely with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSDS) to determine if those confiscated from the residence of the suspect and those seized at the airport last week were either listed as critical, endangered, vulnerable or threatened, and the penalties and fines to be imposed for violating the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. Hagedorn revealed that the PNP-Aviation Security Command received Php100,000 as reward for the confiscation of 26.5 kilos of anteater fresh meat and about 185 kilos of anteater scales and turtle scutes at the Puerto Princesa airport in two separate incidents. “This is an eye-opener for all those in the airport, those who are in charge of inspecting shipments and cargoes na huwag maging kampante at busisiin lahat pati nasa private plane,” he said. Hagedorn urges the public to be vigilant, report suspicious people, and to be watchful of the activities in the barangay. The suspect is now in the custody of the NBI and undergoing inquest proceedings. (LBRVSM/PIA-Palawan) | 
