Sun.Star: Bird flu threat averted; smugglers nabbed in Davao
07/10/2007 | 08:50 AM
Government agents in Davao City arrested Sunday an Indonesian and two Filipinos Sunday for smuggling into the country exotic birds from Indonesia, a bird flu "hotspot" in Southeast Asia.
Sun.Star Davao reported Tuesday that the confiscated animals were exterminated Monday to prevent the possible spread of avian influenza.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), whose agents made the arrest and seizure, said the extermination was done in its regional office in Davao City.
There are already 101 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in Indonesia, 80 of which have been fatal.
The Philippines, meanwhile, has so far maintained its bird flu-free status in the region.
Confiscated from the suspects were a Bird of Paradise, three Rainbow Lories, a Black Palm, a Sulfur Cockatoo, two Gaski Lories, a Black Cut Lory, a Black Lory, a crocodile, a wild boar, and a kangaroo mouse.
The NBI identified the suspected smugglers as Indonesian national Randy Mandumi Makaginggi; Mike Antucilla, 36, a resident of Davao City; and Renante Toledo a.k.a. Nante, a resident of Lasang, Davao City. They were arrested at noon Sunday.
Antucilla, the primary suspect, travels to Indonesia at least once a month to get stocks and was using the Indonesian national as interpreter and as his accomplice.
Antucilla and Toledo are now detained at the NBI and face charges for violating the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act. Makaginggi was brought to the Bureau of Immigration to face appropriate charges.
"This is a month-long surveillance and product din of intelligence reports from the agents of the bureau," said Exzel Hernandez of the NBI.
Hernandez said the suspects were said to be smuggling various contraband like firearms, ammunition, shabu while using the birds as cover for the smuggled items.
He said the suspects would also smuggle in snakes on a "per order" basis.
The NBI said it is verifying reports that the same gang was also involved in human smuggling.
Hernandez said the birds and other creatures were turned over to Department of Agriculture (DA) instead of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).
Under the setup of the National Avian Flu Task Force, the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry is the lead agency for bird flu for as long as there is still no human infection reported.
Only two weeks ago, another case of bird flu infection on a three-year-old girl was confirmed in Indonesia. She has since recovered.
Outbreaks of the virus both in animals and humans continue to be confirmed in Indonesia, the latest of which was just last month. - GMANews.TV
Sun.Star Davao reported Tuesday that the confiscated animals were exterminated Monday to prevent the possible spread of avian influenza.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), whose agents made the arrest and seizure, said the extermination was done in its regional office in Davao City.
There are already 101 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in Indonesia, 80 of which have been fatal.
The Philippines, meanwhile, has so far maintained its bird flu-free status in the region.
Confiscated from the suspects were a Bird of Paradise, three Rainbow Lories, a Black Palm, a Sulfur Cockatoo, two Gaski Lories, a Black Cut Lory, a Black Lory, a crocodile, a wild boar, and a kangaroo mouse.
The NBI identified the suspected smugglers as Indonesian national Randy Mandumi Makaginggi; Mike Antucilla, 36, a resident of Davao City; and Renante Toledo a.k.a. Nante, a resident of Lasang, Davao City. They were arrested at noon Sunday.
Antucilla, the primary suspect, travels to Indonesia at least once a month to get stocks and was using the Indonesian national as interpreter and as his accomplice.
Antucilla and Toledo are now detained at the NBI and face charges for violating the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act. Makaginggi was brought to the Bureau of Immigration to face appropriate charges.
"This is a month-long surveillance and product din of intelligence reports from the agents of the bureau," said Exzel Hernandez of the NBI.
Hernandez said the suspects were said to be smuggling various contraband like firearms, ammunition, shabu while using the birds as cover for the smuggled items.
He said the suspects would also smuggle in snakes on a "per order" basis.
The NBI said it is verifying reports that the same gang was also involved in human smuggling.
Hernandez said the birds and other creatures were turned over to Department of Agriculture (DA) instead of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).
Under the setup of the National Avian Flu Task Force, the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry is the lead agency for bird flu for as long as there is still no human infection reported.
Only two weeks ago, another case of bird flu infection on a three-year-old girl was confirmed in Indonesia. She has since recovered.
Outbreaks of the virus both in animals and humans continue to be confirmed in Indonesia, the latest of which was just last month. - GMANews.TV
READER'S FEEDBACK:
From: 'Silvija Vecrumba' (Sturgalve@aol.com), of Brooklyn, USA
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 7:16 AM
The one sided reporting, lack of research, and total disregard for scientific data in this article regarding capture of bird smugglers is appalling. The Sun.Star was selective in its choice of "facts" reported, choosing to tell the story of an unsophisticated smuggler being caught as a heroic effort by the authorities....the threat of the evil bird flu averted.
Yes, the smuggler Antucilla was guilty and deserved to be arrested. Smuggling of exotic animals for the pet trade is an international problem that threatens many species with extinction. The Sun.Star failed to mention, as other news agencies reported, that it was over 200 animals, mostly parrots, that were confiscated from this smuggler.
The Sun.Star did report their fate; they were exterminated. Over 200 sentient, intelligent, feeling animals murdered because of ignorance.
This news article focused on the sensationalism of averting avian flu, citing statistics of bird flu breakouts in Indonesia (from where these animals were smuggled), while completely disregarding scientific fact.
The majority of the animals that were confiscated and immediately exterminated were parrots; there has NEVER been a documented case of H5N1-strain of Highly PathogenicAvian Influenza (bird flu to those that haven't done their research) in parrots. Ref: "Parrots and Avian Influenza: Consequences for Wild and Companion Psittacines", Parrots Magazine, January, 2006." by Dr. Stewart Metz for full analysis; no documented cases have been reported since the publication of that article.
The avian flu most certainly is a threat that must be taken seriously, but done so correctly and scientifically, and humanely. There are simple tests that can be administered to determine whether animals are infected with avian flu; mass slaughter is not the only option. These are the issues this paper could have, and should have, investigated and reported upon, rather than taking pride in the mass slaughter of parrots.
However, considering that the Sun.Star's reporting of the names of some of the birds was inaccurate, it is obvious that their lives were of no concern. Some of these birds that were slaughtered are afforded protection under the international CITES treaty, but obviously that meant nothing either in the Philippines or to the Sun.Star.
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 7:16 AM
The one sided reporting, lack of research, and total disregard for scientific data in this article regarding capture of bird smugglers is appalling. The Sun.Star was selective in its choice of "facts" reported, choosing to tell the story of an unsophisticated smuggler being caught as a heroic effort by the authorities....the threat of the evil bird flu averted.
Yes, the smuggler Antucilla was guilty and deserved to be arrested. Smuggling of exotic animals for the pet trade is an international problem that threatens many species with extinction. The Sun.Star failed to mention, as other news agencies reported, that it was over 200 animals, mostly parrots, that were confiscated from this smuggler.
The Sun.Star did report their fate; they were exterminated. Over 200 sentient, intelligent, feeling animals murdered because of ignorance.
This news article focused on the sensationalism of averting avian flu, citing statistics of bird flu breakouts in Indonesia (from where these animals were smuggled), while completely disregarding scientific fact.
The majority of the animals that were confiscated and immediately exterminated were parrots; there has NEVER been a documented case of H5N1-strain of Highly PathogenicAvian Influenza (bird flu to those that haven't done their research) in parrots. Ref: "Parrots and Avian Influenza: Consequences for Wild and Companion Psittacines", Parrots Magazine, January, 2006." by Dr. Stewart Metz for full analysis; no documented cases have been reported since the publication of that article.
The avian flu most certainly is a threat that must be taken seriously, but done so correctly and scientifically, and humanely. There are simple tests that can be administered to determine whether animals are infected with avian flu; mass slaughter is not the only option. These are the issues this paper could have, and should have, investigated and reported upon, rather than taking pride in the mass slaughter of parrots.
However, considering that the Sun.Star's reporting of the names of some of the birds was inaccurate, it is obvious that their lives were of no concern. Some of these birds that were slaughtered are afforded protection under the international CITES treaty, but obviously that meant nothing either in the Philippines or to the Sun.Star.
