Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu reminded the public to be mindful of the legal measures when purchasing certain wildlife species, as stated under Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.
Cimatu issued the statement after 25 tarantulas and 112 spiderlings were seized by the by the Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (WTMU-NAIA) of the DENR-National Capital Region (NCR), upon the turnover of said wildlife by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) stationed at the NAIA.
The said tarantulas and spiderlings were confiscated for violation of Section 27 of RA 9147, specifically on the illegal trade of wildlife and relevant policies.
The confiscated wildlife species were transferred to the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau’s Wildlife Rescue Center for custody.
“While RA 9147 comprehensively contains prohibitions and penalties on illegal wildlife possession and trade, the Act also indicates the legal measures of acquiring wildlife. Let us be reminded that the illegal possession of wildlife such as the tarantulas have serious penalties,” Cimatu said.
DENR-NCR’s Enforcement Division-Surveillance and Intelligence Section Chief Maricar Puno-Sanchez said there are necessary permits and documents that must be checked before buying certain wildlife species to make sure that they come from legal sources.
“When purchasing, ask the trader if he/she has a Wildlife Farm Permit (WFP) that authorizes operation and maintenance of a wildlife breeding farm for conservation, trade and/or scientific purposes; or a Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR), to ensure that the wildlife is from a legal source,” Sanchez said.
She added: “Under a CWR, local trade of non-threatened faunal species is allowed. Without a document that would prove a legal source of the wildlife, the buyer cannot register the particular wildlife with our office and be issued a Certificate of Wildlife Registration to legitimize possession. You can call the DENR-NCR to verify who are or which establishments are holders of Wildlife Farm Permit and Certificate of Wildlife Registration.”
Sanchez noted that only the DENR regional offices can validly issue WFP and CWR, adding that other permits under the law include Gratuitous Permit for engagement of non-commercial scientific or educational undertaking to collect wildlife, Local Transport Permit for the transport of wildlife, by-products or derivatives acquired from legal sources within the country, and Import/Export/Re-export Permits for the transport to and from other countries.
“More than anything, the requirements, and penalties all boil down for the protection and conservation of our biodiversity, which in the end affects our health. Let us remember that the coronavirus has reportedly come from wildlife and it is still present around us,” Cimatu said.
“If we continue to be non-conforming with our laws or be indifferent with the impact of illegal wildlife trade, exploitation will persist, our ecosystem will be disrupted, and we, including the future generation, will suffer the consequences,” he added.
Under RA 9147, the penalty depends not only on the act committed but also on the conservation status of the wildlife.
The highest penalties are imposed on those guilty of killing critically endangered wildlife—jail term of six years and one day to 12 years and/or payment of a fine ranging from P100,000 to P1 million.
For hunting and trading, the penalty ranges from two to four years of imprisonment and/or fine of P30,000 to P300,000 for hunting and P5,000 to P300,000 for trading wildlife.
For the mere transport of wildlife, the penalty is six months to one-year imprisonment and/or P50,000 to P100,000 fine. ###
