DENR awards soldiers, cops, others for fighting wildlife crime

MANILA, Philippines – Individuals instrumental in fighting wildlife crime were awarded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday, November 26.

At the first-ever POGI Enforcement Awards, 62 individuals were given medals for helping the DENR crack down on wildlife crimes such as wildlife poaching and the illegal trade of endangered species.

POGI stands for Philippines Operations Group on Ivory and Illegal Wildlife Trade. It is composed of different government agencies like the DENR, Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

The ceremony recognized the contribution of the awardees to 6 successful wildlife rescue operations in 2013:

• A July Tondo raid which led to the rescue of 14 forest turtles
• An operation in Quezon in which 178 endangered species from Palawan were confiscated
• The confiscation of 5 monitor lizards and a cloud rat in Batangas
• The transport of 7 crocodiles from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau headquarters in Quezon City to Palawan
• The arrest of Vietnamese nationals smuggling 294 sea turtles and Malaysian nationals smuggling 9,228 sea turtle eggs
• The confiscation of 34 hawksbill turtles in Tawi-Tawi

Those recognized were 59 personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP, one barangay chairman and two concerned citizens.

The awardees are:

• Police Superintendent Roderick Mariano
• Special Police Officer (SPO) 2 Felimon Alimbon Jr
• Police Officer (PO) 3 Conrado de Jesus
• PO1 Jerrikson Tan, PO2 Ryan Chris Noriega
• PO2 Rhobbie Reyes
• PO1 Marlito Daya
• SPO1 Marvin Velasquez
• Inocencio Villanueva (chairman of Barangay 230 in Tondo)
• Chief Inspector Job Llanora de Mesa
• Inspector Neptali Reyes Mendoza,
• SPO4 Ramon Pagulayan
• PO2 Pario Erico Manicad
• PO2 Septer Ebasco
• PO2 Reynaldo Dumondon
• PO1 Peter Ferlin Forcadela
• PO1 Rodelio Cabile
• PO1 Rachel Casas
• PO1 Gemma Marqueses
• PO3 Melvin Ruedas
• PO3 Roel Rondilla
• Supt Allen Rae Co
• PO3 Miljun Magadia
• PO3 Jefferson Tamaray
• SPO3 Nestor Lumanglas
• SPO2 Michael Subrito
• SPO1 Randy Pastorfide 
• Jose Abarquez
• Ricky Bernales
• Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Villareal
• Staff Sergeant Edilberto Gonzales
• Air Traffic Controller Giovanni Eclaves
• Chief Insp Oliver Basco Ebora
• Insp Richard Zara de Guzman
• SPO1 Nelson Flores
• PO3 Doji Garcia
• PO1 Michael Lasi 
•  Air Force Lt Gen Lauro Catalino dela Cruz 
• PO2 Rolly Buncag
• PO2 Julius Aguanta
• PO2 Ronil Dago
• PO2 Samuel Olea
• PO2 Dem Jose Sabbaluca
• PO1 Marcelo Agao
• PO2 Raymund Oblian
• PO1 Aljaymar Estremos
• PO1 John Rey Zumaraga
• PO1 Frederick Orquijo
• Supt Osmundo Salibo
• Insp Hurdan Bacalanco
• SPO3 Donil Maquirang
• PO2 Philip Katon
• PO1 Remigio Mape
• PO1 Jose Dexter Maranan
• PO1 Reynaldo Jaminden
• Police Supt Frederick Mead
• Police Insp Samuel Lim
• SPO2 Richard Marquez
• PO2 Warren dela Cruz
• PO2 Basil Iserail
• PO1 Aaron Tinonas
• PO1 Orlando Lacamba

 – Rappler.com

Philippines sea turtle image from Shutterstock