276 endangered plants from Holland seized

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have seized almost 300 illegally imported carnivorous plants in Pasay City. According to the Bureau of Customs, the 276 plants, which came from the Netherlands in 10 packages, were seized at the Paircargo warehouse in Pasay City on Monday. The carnivorous plants were identified as drosera, nepenthes, dionaea, sarracenia, pinguicula and cephalotus, with an estimated value of P150,000. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the plants are among those declared as critically endangered and are among the world’s rarest and most endangered plants. The intercepted packages were turned over to the DENR for rehabilitation and care. —TINA G. SANTOS