Consignee of smuggled black corrals faces Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines – Exequiel Navarro, consignee of alleged smuggled black corals, faced the Senate on Monday amid threat of arrest after failing to show up last week.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, had threatened to cite Navarro for contempt and have him arrested for not attending last week’s hearing supposedly because one of his siblings was sick.

In his testimony, Navarro reiterated that he had no knowledge that the shipment consigned to him and intercepted by authorities contained smuggled black corals and turtles.

He also reiterated that the owner of the shipment was a certain Li n Lim and that he was just being used as a consignee.