MikeLigalig.com

by PNA

Mayor Celso Lobregat announced Tuesday that a case for violation of Republic Act 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, will be filed against the Li and Lim Trading that owns the tons of corals and shells uncovered in this city.

Lobregat made the announcement after an inter-agency meeting at City Hall wherein they discussed about the discovery of the tons of corals and shells.

The estimated 30 to 40 tons of corals and shells were discovered after Benny Yu, who owns the warehouse rented by the Li and Lim Trading, has allowed “in good faith” the authorities to inspect the warehouse compound in Sitio Pasay, Barangay San Roque, six kilometers west of this city.

Lobregat said the case will be filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-9 (CIDG-9) headed by Senior Supt. Mario Rariza.

The Li and Lim Trading, which is into the business of live marine products, is registered under the name of Olivia Li, who was implicated in the recent smuggling of black corals and stuffed turtles.

The smuggled marine products, worth millions of pesos, were intercepted early last month by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) authorities in a port in Manila.

Lobregat disclosed they are also studying to include Yu, the warehouse owner, since the tons of corals and shells were uncovered in a vacant lot of the warehouse' compound and not on the rented area occupied by Li.

“There are many legal angles that being looked into before the filing of the case,” Lobregat emphasized.

Tuesday's inter-agency meeting in this city was initiated by Lobregat to find out how they can help in the Senate inquiry concerning the confiscation of smuggled black corals and stuffed turtles in Manila port last month.

The inventory of the recovered tons of marine products undertaken by the BFAR and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) continued on Tuesday here.

Atty. Demosthenes Escoto of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) central office' legal department, said the inventory works have already reached 10 percent.

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