By RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO City — About P2.5 million worth of endangered seashells were confiscated by police in the coastal town of Batad after they intercepted a six-wheeler truck containing the said shells.
Insp. Joven Arevalo, Batad police chief, said his men arrested the driver and his helpers and impounded the truck at about 6:30 p.m. on July 31.
Arevalo said the shells were bought from sources at P30 each but sold at P1,500 each as finished products.
The truck (plate number: YFJ-462) was loaded with helmet shells, locally known as budyong, and smooth top shells.
It was driven by Christopher Mancia, 31, who was accompanied by helpers Cipriano Ombrero, 53, and Rene Boy Rusiana, 38.
All three were residents of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
They failed to show pertinent documents relative to the transport of the shells — a violation of the Philippine Fisheries Code, police said.
Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas, Iloilo Police Provincial Office director, said they have received information that endangered seashells will be taken to Batad.
He then ordered personnel of Batad police station, Provincial Intelligence Branch, and Maritime Unit 6 to put up a checkpoint.
Seized from the Isuzu truck were 1,708 pieces of helmet shells and 616 pieces of smooth top shells, an inventory by a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 6 examiner showed.
Arevalo said the shells came from Masbate, and Batad was just used as a “dropping point” from where they will be shipped to buyers.
Mancia and his helpers, along with the confiscated seashells, were currently in the custody of Batad police station./PN
