Senate bill seeks stiffer penalties for marine life poaching

A bill has been filed at the Senate seeking to enforce stiffer penalties for those who engage in large scale exploitation and destruction of endangered marine life species and other aquatic resources. Senate Bill 2870, filed by Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., seeks to amend section 88 of Republic Act No. 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 to increase the penalty of using explosives, poisonous substances, and electric fishing devices for illegal fishing from imprisonment of five to 10 years to 12 to 20 years. The measure also seeks to amend section 91 and 92 of the same code to indicate that large scale coral exploitation, through whatever means, shall be punishable by imprisonment from 40 years to reclusion perpetua and/or a fine ranging from P1 million to P10 million. SB 2870 also seeks to amend section 97 of RA 8550 to increase the penalties for the fishing or poaching of endangered species listed in the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna and as determined by the Department of Agriculture from imprisonment of 12 to 20 years and/or a fine of P120,000 to 20 to 40 years imprisonment and/or a fine of P500,000 to P5 million. The bill also seeks to implement a system of reward incentives for law enforcement officers or informants of violators. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News