CEBU CITY – Fossilized giant clams or “taklobo” amounting to P36 million were seized by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas and personnel of the Philippine Air Force in separate barangays in Cordova, Cebu last Wednesday.
The giant clams were confiscated from a couple and three others persons in separate operations in Barangay Catarman and Barangay Day-as.
NBI 7 Director Tomas Enrile said charges for violating Republic Act 10654 or the “Act to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing” have been filed against couple George and Bebing Oldama, Rowena Tajanlangit, and two other men.
Enrile said it took a month of monitoring to confirm that the suspects were selling giant clams.
The NBI Region 7 director said the clams were sold for between P18,000 and P20,000 per kilo.
Following the operations, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR Region 7) Director Alfeo Piloton appealed to the public to report immediately to authorities those people possessing or collecting fossilized giant clams.
Piloton said collecting, possessing, or selling fossilized giant clams are strictly prohibited under the existing laws.
BFAR 7 said fossilized giant clams are also protected under international policies, particularly listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna Appendix II. (Calvin D. Cordova)
