TAYABAS CITY, Quezon – The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) charged three hunters for
capturing and killing a wild boar or “baboy ramo” or the Philippine Warty Pig in the protected area of Mount Banahaw in this city.
CENRO filed a complaint against Isabelo Javin, Melandres Javin, and Michael Villarey after they were caught by the forester of CENRO-Tayabas during a patrol carrying the wild boar with bullet wounds in Barangay Alitao within the jurisdiction of the Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL).
The hunters were armed with guns and knives and the CENRO personnel were concerned for their safety and only advised the suspects not to return to the prohibited area without a permit from the DENR.
The suspects were not disarmed and as they leaving, the wild pig struggled, and the suspects stabbed the animal with a bolo and carried it away.
Tanggol Kalikasan said that the hunters violated Republic Act 1103 (An Act providing for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats) which took effect on July 30, 2001.
Under the law, wild pigs such are protected and cannot be hunted and considered an endangered species in the Philippines.
Tanggol Kalikasan added that the action of the CENRO-DENR serves as a reminder to other hunters that wild pigs in the country are protected.