Woman arrested, 2 endangered hornbills rescued in GenSan ops

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Authorities arrested a woman and rescued two endangered Southern rufous hornbills during a joint anti-wildlife trafficking operation in neighboring General Santos City (GenSan) on Monday, July 6.

The buy-bust operation was conducted at 11:23 a.m. in Barangay Calumpang by the GenSan Maritime Police Station, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-GenSan and GenSan Police Station 10.

In a report, the GenSan police identified the arrested suspect only by her alias, “Aimae,” 32, unemployed, and a resident of Barangay Bula, GenSan.

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Authorities recovered two undocumented Southern rufous hornbills (Buceros mindanensis), which are endangered bird species protected under Philippine laws.

The birds were immediately turned over to DENR-CENRO GenSan for proper documentation, care, and safekeeping.

The arrested suspect will face charges for violating Section 27 of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, after investigators found that the alleged illegal wildlife trade was carried out online.

Investigation is still ongoing to determine if other individuals or groups were involved in the illegal trade.

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Following the operation, the DENR urged the public not to collect, keep, or sell protected wildlife species.

The agency also encouraged the public to report illegal wildlife activities, stressing that protecting the country’s biodiversity is a shared responsibility. /das

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