Palace says LGUs involved in poaching, trade of corals

Some local government units (LGUs) are involved in the illegal trade of black corals, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje has asked Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to help bring to justice local executives that tolerate the poaching of black corals.

“As you know the black corals are raised within 15 kilometers and these are considered municipal waters. Corals would require sunlight and so they are within our municipal waters,” Lacierda said at a briefing in Malacañang.

“So obviously, there are some LGUs which are involved in this illegal trade,” he added.

Lacierda wouldn’t say whether some local officials have been identified to be involved in the illegal trade but appeared confident in saying local executives may be liable.

Municipal boundaries

“This is based on the assumption that the corals are within the municipal waters,” Lacierda said.

“As you know, corals require sunlight and, therefore, presumably the illegal trading would not have happened or the poaching will not have occurred without some measure of involvement or knowledge by the local government units,” Lacierda said.

Black corals, despite being protected by law, continues to be extracted and traded. It is used in jewelry making.

Malacañang has already called on Filipinos to boycott black coral jewelry and other items made from the valuable corals.

It also earlier called on local governments to protect aquatic resources in their jurisdiction. The Palace admitted the lack of patrol equipment for the country’s coastline.

Guidebook

“We call on LGUs to refer to, and implement, the guidebook on Coral Reef Protection issued by the DENR last year. Our local governments can learn from the best practices of their fellow LGUs,” Lacierda said in an earlier statement.

Lacierda cited the case of Bolinao, Pangasinan, and two towns in Occidental Mindoro—Looc and Lubang.

Lacierda said the agencies involved in the seizure of a shipment of smuggled black corals were expected to file charges today against those involved in the illegal trade.

Lacierda said he still has no information on which local government executives are involved in the trafficking of black corals.