Wildlife hunting is prohibited

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Hunting or killing of wildlife is strictly prohibited by law.

This was the warning of the Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (CAPENRO) following the death of a farmer who was mistaken by a fellow farmer as a wild pig or Visayan warty pig, a critically endangered species of a pig in Jamindan, Capiz recently.

CAPENRO head, Atty. Emilyn Depon, said she was saddened by the incident and hoped that it will serve as a lesson to the public.

Depon said one of the functions of her office is to protect endangered species.

Persons could be charged for disobeying Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) if they are caught hunting protected wildlife. The penalty includes imprisonment of 6 to 12 years and a fine of P100,000 to P12 million.

Early, this week a 27-year-old farmer died after he was shot dead by a fellow farmer after the latter mistook him for a “wild pig” at Barangay, Agbun-od, Jamindan, Capiz.

Police identified the victim as James Valaquio of Sitio Ginalas, Barangay Agbun-od, Jamindan, while the suspect was identified as Teller Glorian of said place.

Glorian surrendered to the Jamindan police together with the 12-gauge shotgun he used to shoot the victim.

Meanwhile, the family of Valaquio will no longer file charges against Glorian as they consider the incident as accidental.

But the Jamindan PNP placed the suspect under inquest proceedings for illegal possession of firearm.