Wildlife trader arrested, 17 birds rescued in Bacolod City

BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — Law enforcement operatives led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a 65-year-old man and rescued over a dozen birds during an entrapment operation in Barangay 30 here on Thursday, Sept. 3. The suspect, identified by authorities only as alias “Ancheto,” was caught in a buy-bust sting operation. He faces charges for the illegal possession and trading of wildlife under Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. READ: Illegal wildlife trade persists in Sarangani During the operation, operatives recovered marked buy-bust cash and boodle money, alongside 11 bird cages containing five Philippine Serpent Eagles, eight Martanico birds, two Green Parrots, two Coleto birds, a Grass Owl, and a “Sagaksak.” READ: 4 Australian parrots rescued from suspected traders in Zambales Following an on-site inventory witnessed by barangay officials, the suspect and the confiscated animals were taken into custody for booking, documentation, and the filing of formal complaints before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office. The operation was led by the CIDG-Negros Occidental Provincial Field Unit and supported by the CIDG Bacolod City Field Unit, the Negros Occidental Maritime Police Station, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Bago City, and Police Station 6 of the Bacolod City Police Office. /cb