A manta ray was found slaughtered along the coast near the mouth of Tagoloan River in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. Personnel from the Tagoloan Municipal Hall personally witnessed the scene where at least three individuals were seen cutting the marine animal into large slices perhaps to be sold in the market. As per Fisheries Administrative Order No. 193, catching manta rays in Philippine waters or selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting, or exporting the same whether dead or alive, in any state or form whether raw or processed is strictly prohibited.
In his Facebook post, Jong Joel Casino of the Tagoloan Municipal Hall together with a personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) were responding to a report that a large fish or whale was found along the coast near Sanjia Steel Mill being butchered by certain villagers. However, when they arrived at the scene, it was not a whale but a manta ray being cut to large pieces by at least three individuals.
Cut-up manta ray meat are seen below.
Violators of FAO No. 193 shall pay a fine of not less than five hundred (P500.00) pesos to not more than five thousand (P5,000.00) pesos or imprisonment from six (6) months to four (4) years, or both such fine and imprisonment depending on the discretion of the court. SOURCE
