Senate panel to probe smuggling of PHL corals

The Senate committee on environment and natural resources will investigate the practice of smuggling endangered marine species in the country, its chairman Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Monday. "We could not let this high crime pass without our scrutiny. Your committee on environment and natural resources, once this issue has been referred to it, is prepared to get to the bottom of this," Zubiri said during his privilege speech at the Senate. He gave the speech days after authorities seized around P15 million worth of endangered black sea fan corals allegedly meant to be shipped from Cebu to China to be turned into fashion accessories. Zubiri said he will expose all the people behind the crime, especially the financier and masterminds of the smuggling syndicate. "We should help our law enforcement agencies find the legal arsenal and file the highest possible charges in court and muster the political will to break the backbone of this syndicate," he said. Zubiri also called on the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation to immediately put on hold departure list the names of people being investigated for the crime. He also requested the Supreme Court to expedite the creation environmental courts and the public to report all crimes against the environment. "The concerted efforts of our agencies and a vigilant public are the best defense against these environmental crimes," Zubiri said as he commended the informer who tipped off the authorities about the illegal shipment of corals. "You have already made a great contribution to the nation, far greater than many of us in the government service have done. I will be honored to meet you in person and I also hope that at the proper time, the Senate can properly give you the commendation you deserved with your deed. I also pray that may your breed multiply," he said. He also praised the Bureau of Customs, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for immediately acting on the tip the informer. Meanwhile, Zubiri said he is thinking of filing a bill that would require existing companies in the country to send their executives and operations personnel to study local environmental laws. "I believe that we can no longer separate the issue of the environment and business operations in the country," he said. - KBK, GMA News