Serpent eagle rescued

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A female resident of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental was arrested for allegedly selling a Philippine Serpent Eagle a few weeks ago.

In a report from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)-Cadiz released to the media this week, Ana Marie Jacoba, 40, of Barangay Zone 2, Cadiz City was arrested in an entrapment operation on June 10 for alleged illegal trading/selling of wildlife without pertinent documents from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Before the entrapment operation, a Cenro staff reached out to Jacoba to buy the eagle via Facebook. They later agreed to meet in Cadiz City, where she was caught in possession of the eagle that she planned to sell for P2,500.

According to Cenro, Jacoba violated Section 27 of Republic Act 9147 or Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

Cenro-Cadiz took custody of the eagle for proper treatment and was later released.

Cenro said that the Philippine Serpent Eagle was classified as least concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.