Pagadian City, 31 May (PIA) --Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje hailed the ruling of the lower court
convicting and imposing penalty on a resident of Brgy. Impasugong, Bukidnon for
killing and cooking a juvenile Philippine eagle.
“This would serve as a lesson and warning to other would-be
violators of the law on wildlife resources conservation and protection,” Paje
said.
He added that the long arm of the law will always catch all
transgressors against the environment.
Paje said that, under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9147 also called
Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, the killing of a critically
endangered species is punishable by imprisonment of between six and 12
years or a fine of between PhP100,000 to PhP 1 million.
Recently, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Malaybalay in Bukidnon
imposed a punishment by slapping a penalty amounting to PhP100,000 on a certain
Bryan Bala-on after finding him guilty of killing and cooking a young
male Philippine eagle.
The government is exerting effort focused at preserving of what is
left of the critically endangered species whose number is fast dwindling to
only few number of 300 pairs left scattered all over the country particularly
in the forests in Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.
In an effort to raise national awareness of preserving the
remnants of the Philippine Eagle, Presidential Proclamation No. 79 was issued
on February 24, 1999 mandating June 4-10 every year thereafter Philippine Eagle
Week.
“This will always instill in the minds and hearts of the Filipino
people the significance of the Philippine eagle as a biological indicator of
the forest ecosystems and as national symbol,” Paje said.
Paje said the dwindling number of Philippine eagles in the country
also reflects the country’s dwindling forests.
“That’s why we also have to seriously look at investing at enforcing
laws to keep the existing forests intact and to rehabilitate damaged
environments,” Paje said.
Paje also reminded everyone not to hurt or kill the bird, and if
they can catch a wounded or ailing Philippine eagle, they should bring it
immediately to the nearest DENR office in the area. (DENR9/CAL/PIA9)