MANILA - Authorities on Wednesday seized more than 200 giant clams or taklobo on Johnson Island in Roxas town, Palawan.
According to Commander Severino Destura, chief-of-staff of the Philippine Coast Guard-Palawan, they recovered an additional 264 pieces of taklobo.
“We found that the market in China is very large [at] Vietnam, “Destura said in an interview with Teleradyo on Monday.
During the initial investigation by the PCG, some Johnson Island residents were allegedly involved in the storage of the taklobo.
“In this incident, we found out about the barangay captain himself [ay] have direct knowledge of the storage of these giant clams. That is why we have already planned to file the corresponding cases against him, “Destura added.
In a PCG press release, it was said that they seized 324 pieces of taklobo during the Johnson Island operation. It is estimated to be worth P160 million.
Catfish are considered an endangered species, so it is against Republic Act 10654 or Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 to take and sell them.
Violators can be fined up to P3 million and imprisoned for up to 8 years.