Suspect in killing of rare bird at UP Diliman nabbed

MANILA, Philippines—One of the three suspects who captured and killed a rare Black Bittern (Dupetor flavicollis) at the University of the Philippines Diliman Lagoon was arrested Monday, an executive of the university said Tuesday.

In a statement, UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Nestor T. Castro, PhD said that the unnamed suspect was nabbed by the UP Diliman Police and brought to the Biodiversity Management Bureau office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

However, the suspect was later freed because no formal complaint was filed.

Castro said that UP is consulting with lawyers and environmental groups to decide the appropriate actions to be taken by the university administration.

The vice chancellor also said the university is looking into the neglect of duty of the security guards deployed at the lagoon.

Castro said that UP condemns the killing of the rare bird, adding that it is a clear violation of Republic Act No. 9147 or the “Wildlife Resources and Conservation Act” which prohibits the killing of wildlife species.

Last Sunday, Lu-Ann Fuentes Bajarias and husband, Amado Bajarias Jr. witnessed the killing of the bird by three men at the lagoon. She then posted photos of the men holding the bird on Facebook, which went viral.

Amado said that the last documented sighting of the bird at the campus was in 2008.
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