Photo from PNP-PIO
MANILA, Philippines — Police confiscated P50 million worth of “taklobo” or endangered giant clam shells in Negros Oriental but the alleged owner of the clams is still at large, Philippine National Police (PNP) said Saturday.
In a statement, PNP identified the owner as Yan Hu Liang alias Sunny, who owned the species with international market value set at P918 million.
PNP, meanwhile, said authorities were able to capture Liang’s reported accomplice identified as Ricardio Santiana Dela Cruz Jr.
Dela Cruz’s arrest came after Operating Units of Crime Investigation and Detection Group RFU 7 Negros Oriental PFU (lead), Bureau Fish and Aquatic Resources, Bayawan City Police Station, Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office(NOPPO) and 1ST Provincial Mobile Force Company launched an entrapment operation along Barangay Pagatban, Bayawan City on Thursday.
An undercover lawman bought 1,000 kilograms of taklobo worth P5 million from Dela Cruz during the operation.
Aside from the giant clams, seized were cal .45 pistol Colt; magazine and live ammunition.
Dela Cruz, who is detained at Bayawan police station, will be facing complaints for violation of Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and Fisheries Code of the Philippines while Liang will also face charges for violation of Fisheries Code of the Philippines.