Inquirer spotlights Philippine wildlife trafficking

PHILIPPINE NATURAL resources have been exploited and abused on so many levels. But media have not fixed their attention on this problem and reports rarely focus on the detrimental impact of human activity on biodiversity. The ordinary Filipino has little knowledge of the country’s flora and fauna, and few realize the value of their abundance. Indeed, this lack of awareness may be the reason for the failure of government to check the poaching and trafficking of wildlife.

CMFR cheers the Philippine Daily Inquirer for its series on the illegal wildlife trade in the country. Giving the issue banner treatment for three days, the Inquirer called readers’ attention to the extent of this illicit commerce, its impact on the environment and the lack of government response. Based on data and interviews with officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and advocate groups, the three-part report written by Jhesset Enano revealed alarming numbers of trafficked animals and the weaknesses in the legal system that prevent effective prosecution of the criminal activity.

Part 1 focused on the country’s losses due to the trade, amounting to PHP50 billion annually. The figure does not include the loss of environmental benefits of wildlife. It does not help that the wildlife law enforcement units are severely understaffed.  As demand for the exotic and the rare continues to grow, some species native to the country could be hunted to extinction.

Part 2 exposed the use of social media in the illegal business, 95% of which is conducted through Facebook groups. With no particular DENR unit dedicated to cyber surveillance, criminals involved in the trade easily escape prosecution.  Facebook has not yet fulfilled its commitment to regulate the platform and to take responsibility for contents posted and shared on the site.

Part 3 examined specific cases of legal failures in prosecuting wildlife criminals. Despite numerous arrests, the conviction rate is as low as 18 over a six-year period. The wildlife law itself calls for a review to raise penalties and set longer jail terms. Legal curricula should also be updated to include environmental law.

With most environmental reports limited to disaster and calamities, the Inquirer commendably opened the discussion on the illegal wildlife trade, a lead presented to other news organizations for more follow-up reports.