5 persons nabbed for keeping undocumented snake in Quezon

Quezon province map. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) operatives and police in Real town in Quezon province arrested on Tuesday five suspects for possession of a snake without government permits.

The Quezon police reported on Wednesday, Oct. 18, that DENR wildlife protection enforcers sought the assistance of local policemen in arresting the suspects, who were using a live ball python snake (Python regius) on Tuesday morning to attract crowds to buy their herbal medicines in front of the marketplace.

The arrested suspects identified by their aliases as Jessie, 42; Ian, 30; Eric, 55; Edward, 40, and Placido, 38, all residents of this city, were found without a Certificate of Wildlife Registration of the ball python snake, local transport, and gratuitous permits to possess the snake.

The suspects were placed under police custody and are facing criminal charges.

Though ball python snakes are not classified as endangered, they are still protected under the Wildlife Resources Protection and Conservation Act, which prohibits collecting, hunting or possessing, and trading wildlife in the Philippines.

The snake will be turned over to the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center in Calauan, Laguna to undergo care and rehabilitation.

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