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[av_heading heading=’P1.6-M seahorses, seadragons seized ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – An estimated P1.6-million worth of rare seahorses, seadragons and seashells were intercepted in Barangay Poblacion Zone 1, Estancia, Iloilo yesterday.
The police arrested three persons who were all residents of Estancia, a northern Iloilo coastal municipality known for its rich marine resources.
They were about to take a barge bound for Cebu City, according to Chief Inspector Jonah Galicha, Estancia police chief.
Operatives of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Special Operations Group and Estancia police station recovered a total of 19 kilos of seahorses and seadragons worth P1.5 million and 16 sacks of nautilus shells with a market value of P150,000.
Suspects Rosalie Medina, Jovin Mangubat and Rolito Torres were taken to the Estancia police station. They face a charge for violation of Republic Act 10654 (Philippine Fisheries Code) that prohibits the trading of endangered marine species.
According to Galicha, the suspects were placed under surveillance for several weeks. The police received information that the three often bought these endangered species from the locals.
From that the police so far gathered, the suspects were dealing with a middleman, a Taiwanese businessman named Aping whose clients were based in Cebu.
A kilo of seadragon or seahorse fetched P32,000, said Galicha.
Seahorses are bony fishes but named such due to their equine appearance (bent necks and long snouted heads) followed by their distinctive trunk and tail. They are mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters.
The seadragon, also a fish related to the seahorse, has small leaf-like appendages that resemble kelp fronds and a number of short spines. It has a long dorsal fin along the back and small pectoral fins on either side of the neck.
In Oriental medicine, seahorses and seadragons are known for their healing properties. They are also regarded as aphrodisiacs.
The operation yesterday was also witnessed by Estancia’s municipal agriculturist Hector Magtiza./PN
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