March 9, 2025 – Authorities in Palawan arrested a Chinese national and his Filipino aide for allegedly operating an unlicensed lobster farm and using endangered wood to build the facility, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) reported.
The raid, conducted on March 4—a day after World Wildlife Day—led to the discovery of around 1,500 tiger lobsters (Panulirus ornatus), a species of high economic value.
Illegal Logging and Wildlife Violations
- The farm was built using approximately 20,000 board feet of Apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus), an endangered tree species.
- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimates the seized lumber’s value at ₱29 million.
- Authorities filed charges under RA 9147 (Wildlife Act) and PD 705 (Illegal Logging Law).
The operation was a joint effort by the PCSD and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as part of their crackdown on environmental crimes.