Published March 6, 2021, 4:58 PM
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Four suspected illegal wildlife traders, including two minors, were arrested Saturday in Barangay San Rafael, Guagua, this province for selling a monitor lizard (Varanus marmoratus), locally known as “bayawak.” The suspects were arrested in a joint operation conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Guagua police.
Monitor Lizard (Photo via PNA / MANILA BULLETIN)
Police Lt. Julius Javier, chief of the Guagua Municipal Police Station, said their agents posed as buyers and using marked money, were able to buy one live bayawak for P1,000 from Raymond Sto. Domingo, 27, resident of Barangay Tokwing, and Marlon Dacani, 37, of Barangay Babo Sakan, both in Porac, this province, and two minors aged 15 and 17, residents of Barangay San Pedro, Sasmuan, also in this province.