LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Two local Chinese businessmen about to transport 15 freshwater turtles to Manila were arrested by the police Friday afternoon but released three hours later pending further investigation.

Superintendent Ronaldo Ylagan, Lucena police chief, identified the businessmen as Noli Sia and Willie Tan, both residents of this city.

A police report said that at around 3:30 p.m., the two men, carrying two boxes, were about to board a Manila-bound passenger bus at the Lucena Grand Central Terminal.

When the bus dispatcher inspected the boxes, he discovered the juvenile live green turtles and immediately notified the police.

A police team arrived and invited the Chinese businessmen to the police station for questioning.

“According to the two, they bought the turtles from an ambulant vendor. They are going to Manila to give the turtles as wedding gift to a friend who is fond of collecting water creatures,” Ylagan said.

The police was forced to release the two men later in the evening pending an official recommendation on the matter from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which was expected to be submitted on Monday.

“The local DENR people were not able to confirm the species of the seized turtles, if they are included in the endangered list, threatened or whatever. They took photos of the turtles and sent them to the Manila office for official comment,” Ylagan said.

However, lawyer Sheila de Leon, Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog chief, explained that even if the seized turtles were not on the list of endangered species, the two men would still be criminally liable for violation of RA 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act).

She maintained that transport of any kind of wildlife should be accompanied by an official permit from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau.