BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and police personnel have recovered giant clams, weighing 10,000 kilos and worth about P50 million, during an entrapment operation in Brgy. Pagatban, Bayawan City in Negros Oriental on Friday.
They also arrested Ricardo de la Cruz Jr. for selling 1,000 kilos of clams to a police poseur-buyer for P5 million, PNP chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, said.
The operation also led to the recovery of a .45 Colt caliber pistol with a magazine containing seven live ammunition.
The police said Yan Hu Liang, alias Sunny, remains at-large, as of this writing.
“This accomplishment ensures that the sustainable conservation and protection of fishery and aquatic resources law is being implemented by our local authorities,” Sinas said in his report.
The confiscated giant clams have an estimated international market value of P918 million, the police said. Dela Cruz and “Sunny” are both liable for violating Republic Act 8550, or the amended Fisheries Code of the Philippines, in relation to Fisheries Administrative Order 208 or the conservation of rare, threatened, and endangered fishery species.*
