The two ostriches that were caught running free in a viral video were bought from a farm in Misamis Occidental for P30,000, according to an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday.
Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the owner of the ostriches, Jonathan Cruz, told the DENR that the birds were bought from the Philippine Ostrich and Crocodile Farm, Inc. in Misamis Oriental on Oct. 28, 2019.
Based on Cruz's affidavit, a certain Edwin Jara, a consultant for the Philippine Ostrich and Crocodile Farm, Inc. allegedly sold the birds for P30,000, Antiporda added.
A technical conference was called by the DENR-National Capital Region on Monday to let Cruz explain how he got possession of the ostriches.
Cruz, together with his lawyer Charlie Pascual, submitted some documents that include the local transport permit, invoice receipt from the transaction, and photos of the dead ostrich.
Antiporda said the respondent presented a local transport permit to transfer the ostriches from Misamis Oriental to Nueva Ecija but the permit has expired the day the ostriches were bought on Oct. 28, 2019.
"Ang ibinigay sa kanila na permit is the local transport permit. Nung Oct. 28, 2019, expiry date din nung ibinenta sa kanila yung ostrich. Sa halip na maibyahe yung ostrich papunta pang Nueva Ecija na may farm din itong respondent, temporary nilagak nila sa Mapayapa Village. (The only permit given to them is the local transport permit, which was on Oct. 28, 2019, also the expiry date when the ostrich was sold to them. Instead of being able to transport the ostrich to Nueva Ecija where the respondent's farm is located, they temporarily placed it in Mapayapa Village in Quezon City)," Antiporda said.
Cruz said he received an emailed copy of the ostriches' veterinary certificate after the transaction has been made.
"Yung wildlife registration permit hindi naibigay at inabot na ng COVID kaya hindi na daw nila naibyahe ang dalawang ostrich. (The wildlife registration permit was not given to them (Cruz) until the COVID lockdown was implemented so they said they could not travel the two ostriches anymore)," Antiporda said.
A certificate of wildlife registration (CWR) is a permit that enables wildlife keepers and owners to legitimize their ownership of the animals. If the owner plans to relocate the animal, they also have to secure a local transport permit from the DENR.
"From their statement they are trying to say that this is a livestock, a farm animal, hindi nila alam na considered as wildlife siya (they did not know that it is considered wildlife)," he added.
Antiporda pointed out that an ostrich is not a domesticated animal and is still covered by the Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.
He said those with farms should also have the proper registration when obtaining ostriches. "But if they want to eat it or katayin pwede naman dahil pinapayagan naman ito ng ating regulasyon at batas (if they want to eat or slaughter it, they can do so because our regulations and laws allow it)," Antiporda said.
"So since pinapayagan na katayin at kainin, hinihintay namin ang sagot ng legal department kung may cruelty or anything. Kailangan namin marinig ang aming legal department on this. (So since it is allowed to be slaughtered and eaten, we are waiting for the legal department's answer if there is cruelty or anything. We need to hear our legal department on this)," he said.
"There is a thin line of confusion when it comes to the issue on wildlife and farm or livestock. These are two issues that only our legal team can answer," he added.
Antiporda said the DENR-NCR will be reviewing the documents that Cruz has submitted.
"They will study it first so they will know what other steps will be taken. But basically after the review of their documents, maybe tomorrow (August 11), another technical conference will be conducted," he said.