PNP, GCash team up to arrest wildlife trafficker

A merchant allegedly involved in the illegal trade of endangered species was arrested in a joint operation between the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and digital finance app GCash. The suspect reportedly used digital platforms to facilitate unlawful transactions.

Authorities apprehended the individual during a sting operation, where it was revealed that the suspect was selling endangered leopard geckos.

The transaction involved an initial down payment through GCash, followed by a physical exchange of the wildlife for the remaining balance at a prearranged meeting.

Four live leopard geckos and a smartphone used in the illegal dealings were recovered from the suspect, identified as Marquez.

Marquez faces charges under Section 27, paragraphs E (trading of wildlife) and F (possession of wildlife) of Republic Act No. 917, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

GCash issued a strong warning against the misuse of its platform for criminal purposes.

“GCash is committed to safeguarding user funds and preventing the app from being exploited for illegal activities. As the largest digital ecosystem in the country, we maintain a proactive partnership with law enforcement agencies, such as the PNP-ACG, to ensure our app remains secure and trustworthy,” said GCash Vice President for Corporate Communications, Gilda Maquilan.

The PNP urged the public to report crimes to help bring offenders to justice. Suspicious activities can be reported to the nearest police station or to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group at (02) 8414-1560, 0998-598-8116, or via email at acg@pnp.gov.ph.

GCash echoed this call, reminding users they can also report cybercrimes through the GCash Help Center in the app or by visiting help.gcash.com and messaging “Gigi” with the message “I want to report a scam.”