THE COAST Guard Substation in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental apprehended three Filipinos and two Indonesians involved in the illegal transport of wildlife at around 3 p.m. on Nov. 28.
According to authorities, the individuals violated Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Protection Act.
Barangay Kagawad Ronald C. Matinao alerted the Coast Guard about a suspicious motorized banca operating roughly three nautical miles off the coast of Barangay Pundaguitan.
By 4 p.m., a joint team from the CGSS and the Coast Guard Investigation Unit (CGIU) of Davao Oriental intercepted the unregistered motorized banca and arrested the five crew members.
An inspection revealed undocumented wildlife, including 27 Moluccan Cockatoos, 21 Rainbow Lorikeets, 26 Red Lories, and several marsupials such as Northern and Common Spotted Cuscus.
At 4:40 p.m., the team escorted the boat and its crew to Montserrat Fish Port for processing. The individuals were handed over to local police for inquest proceedings, while the rescued wildlife was turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The motorized banca remains in the custody of the Coast Guard Sub-station in Governor Generoso for further investigation. Authorities are continuing their probe into the illegal wildlife trade in the region.
This successful operation highlights the ongoing efforts to enforce wildlife protection laws and combat the illegal trafficking of endangered species in the Philippines.
Photos courtesy of Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao
