Headquarters, Naval Forces Central (HNFC), Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan, Cebu, 16-December-2022 – The Philippine Navy through Naval Forces Central Lead the recovery and confiscation of marine species (Tridacna) locally known as “Taklobo” in Tabogon, Cebu on 15-December-2022.
The said joint and inter-agency operations were composed of the operatives and elements from Naval Forces Central, Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO), Tabogon Municipal Police Station, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Air Force, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7 (BFAR-7) which led to the successful buy-bust operation against illegal trading/selling of endangered marine species (Tridacna) at Sitio Gutob, Barangay Camoboan, Tabogon, Cebu.
As a result of the operation, a certain Natividad N RUIZ @ NATI, a 76-year-old businesswoman and a resident of the aforementioned locality was apprehended after being caught in the act of selling the Giant Clams in violation of Sec 102 (Paragraph B) of RA 10654 (Prohibition on fishing or taking of rare, threatened, or endangered species); and was placed under the custody of CPPO for the filing of an appropriate case.
Likewise, the buy-bust marked money worth One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00), 1 Giant Clam weighing 10 kilograms (as an item for sale), and approximately thirty (30) Tons or thirty thousand (30,000) kilograms of Tridacna Giant
Clam shells locally known as “Taklobo” with an estimated market value of Three Hundred Sixty Million Pesos (Php 360,000,000.00) were all confiscated during the operation, and turned-over to BFAR in Carmen, Cebu for scaling and evaluation.
The successful conduct of this joint and inter-agency operation depicts the government’s determination together with other law enforcement agencies and local government units in eradicating the illegal trading/selling of all endangered marine species which are vital in maintaining and restoring the health of the coral reefs ecosystem as well as the preservation and protection of marine life and environment in our seas.