The roles taken on by Police Col. Roel Lami-ing are taking fatherhood to a whole new level.
As police provincial director, Lami-ing leads and guides hundreds of PNP personnel deployed all over Zamboanga Del Sur.
At home, Lami-ing is head of a family that includes not only humans but exotically endangered creatures.
Lami-ing and wife Junevell, who serves as Guipos municipal vice mayor, have recently entered into an agreement to adopt two Philippine fresh water crocodiles under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) “Adopt a Wildlife Species Program.”
As adoptive parents of crocodiles Chuy-Chuy and Claudia, the couple agreed to care for and raise public awareness on endangered species.
“Yun passion, interest namin mag-asawa na mag-adopt ng endangered species, yun mga animals subject for extinction. Nakita namin na kailangan din sila alagaan,” said Lami-ing.
From two crocodiles, the brood has expanded to include another croc, “Dagat; several Anglo-Nubian goats; deer; and ostriches- most of which came from Lami-ing’s areas of assignment in MIndanao.
Contrary to public perception, the animals, all housed inside the Lami-ing compound, are considered by the couple as “stress relievers.”
The police official also dispels the notion that caring for the animals is expensive and difficult.
“Para kang nag-aalaga ng tao. Like a human being, you give the necessary care,” said Lami-ing, who bared plans to build a mini-zoo.
With this next project, Lami-ing is going a step further in sharing to the world his paternal love for the wild.