Police seize ₱50-M endangered giant clam shells in Negros Oriental

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) — An estimated ₱50-million worth of endangered giant clam shells up for "unlawful selling" were confiscated in an entrapment operation in Negros Oriental, the Philippine National Police said in a report on Saturday.

The police said it found an inventory of clams or "taklobo" weighing more or less 10,000 kilograms. A certain Ricarido Santiana Dela Cruz, Jr. was arrested for selling a portion of the bundle for ₱5 million. Police also identified the owner of the endangered sea creatures to be Yan Hu Liang, alias "Sunny", who is still at large.

Both alleged suspects will be charged with a violation of the Fisheries Code under Administrative Order 208 or "Conservation of rare, threatened and endangered fishery species". Representatives of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources were also present during the arrest.