Senate panel orders arrest of illegal coral shipment supplier

(Updated 5:13 p.m.) The Senate environment committee on Wednesday cited in contempt and ordered the arrest of the supplier involved in the alleged illegal shipment of P35 million worth of black corals and other endangered marine species. During the day's Senate environment committee hearing, the panel's chairman, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, cited in contempt Olivia Lim Li and Joe Pring, owners of the Zamboanga-based Li and Lim Trading, for still failing to show up despite a subpoena issued by the panel. "I move that the committee... cite in contempt and order the arrest of Ms. Olivia Li, Mr. Joe Pring aka Jok Beng, aka Jo Beng Li, aka Li Yu Ming. I don’t understand how these personalities can actually operate in the Philippines with impunity," he said. Later in the day, Zubiri showed the arrest warrant for Li and Pring signed by 14 senators, including Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. He said the warrant directs the Senate sergeant-at-arms to arrest the couple and bring them to next week's hearing on the issue. "To show that there is order in this country. This is the only way we can govern the nation, when you violate the law you have to answer for it," said Enrile during the day's hearing. Zubiri likewise said that they have already issued a subpoena for Benny and Rosario Yu, the owners of the warehouse where poached marine resources were found earlier. The Senate panel had also earlier cited in contempt Exequiel Navarro, the consignee of the shipment, for failing to show up during the committee's first hearing. When he finally attended the Senate hearing, Navarro denied being involved in any illegal activity. Charges Li and Lim trading had tapped the shipping firm JKA Transport system to ship 163 stuffed hawkbills and green turtles; 21,169 pieces of black corals; 7,340 pieces of Trumpet and Helmet shells and 196 kilograms of sea whips. The items were declared as raw rubber. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) had filed a string of criminal charges against the individuals involved in the shipment. In its complaint, the BOC said the respondents violated the Fisheries Code of the Philippines (Republic Acct 8550) which bans coral exploitation and exportation; and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Administrative Order 158 that prohibits the gathering, taking, collecting, transporting or possession of endangered species of mollusks. The respondents are also charged with violation of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act 9147 ) for the shipment of the contraband. Violation of RA 9147 is punishable by imprisonment of up to six years and a fine of up to P1 million. Old cases But National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 9 director Atty. Manual Almendares revealed that they have already filed two similar cases (one in 2007 and another in 2008) against Pring and his colleagues. "(The) cases (are) still pending preliminary investigation with (the) prosecutor...so far the NBI has not received any subpoena for us to appear in these two cases," he said. Because of this, Enrile said they will invite the fiscal and the judge to appear before the Senate to explain why the cases haven't been acted upon. "It’s very obvious that these people are dribbling the case. They cannot say that they have so many cases. They cannot say that this case is very difficult to prove. A prosecutor must explain why the cases have been so delayed for many years," he said. The Senate president likewise told authorities to immediately arrest or investigate people whom they suspect to be committing similar crimes. "If a crime is committed and you suspect that a crime is committed, you can arrest the people. As law enforcement, you have to take chances...if you are going to hesitate as a law enforcement agent to perform your job because you want to keep your job, you do not want to answer, as long as you have a legal ground, a legal defense, do your job," he said. He issued the statement after several government agencies concerned with the maritime industry admitted that there are no regular inspections of shipments in the absence of a mandate in their respective charters. — GMA News