Combined teams of the National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (NAILTF) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Pasay City police conducted an entrapment operation which led to the arrest of suspects who were selling endangered species on Thursday, Dec. 16.
Col. Cesar Paday-os, Pasay City police chief, identified the suspects as Joel Quimado,22, student, of No. 6002 Tatalon Street, Barangay Ugong Valenzuela City; and Rowena Pindot, 37, of No. 2070 Santiago St.,Barangay Canumay, Valenzuela City.
Paday-os said the suspects were arrested at about 4:30 p.m. inside the Seaside Dampa compound on Macapagal Blvd. Pasay City.
He said prior to the arrest of the suspects, members of the NAILTF under Maj. Roldan Manulit, coordinated with the Pasay City police Sub-Station I for the conduct of an entrapment operation against the suspects who were reported to be pangolins, an endangered species.
The city police chief said the suspects were selling live pangolins for P75,000 to P100,000 each.
Paday-os said the suspects were conducting transactions through WeChat with the buyers of pangolins.
He said members of the NAILTF immediately coordinated with the police on the conduct of an entrapment operation.
Recovered from the suspects were six live pangolins, 74 pieces of boodle money, and a Mitsubishi Mirage G4 with conduction sticker
B8I014 which was being used by the suspects.
Paday-os said the suspects were charged for violation of RA 9147 (Wildlife Act of 2002).