THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) reported on Thursday that its personnel in the Visayas
seized at least P30 million worth of fossilized giant clams and arrested five suspects during an operation in Cebu.
A statement issued by the Air Force said that elements of the 301st Special Mission Group, joined by personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, seized the fossilized clams on Wednesday.
The operation was carried out on the strength of a search warrant, with authorities citing a violation of Republic Act 10654, or the amended Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
During the operation, the raiding team arrested five people, including the couple George and Bebing Oldama, Roweno Tajanlangit and two other suspects, both residents of Barangay Day-as and Barangay Catarman, Cordova, Cebu.
The Air Force said the raiding team took a total of 90 pieces of large-sized, 59 pieces medium-sized, and six sacks of small-sized fossilized giant clams. A kilo of fossilized clams costs about P15,000.
This is the first time that the Air Force, the military’s primary air unit, had been involved in operations enforcing fishery violations.
It has, however, land-based fighting units like the special operations wing that is helping in the campaign against the New People’s Army, and which operates in Southern Tagalog.
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