ABS-CBNnews.com, 10/23/2013--MANILA -- At least 294 critically endangered sea turtles were buried in Puerto Princesa following an inventory on the items taken by Vietnamese poachers in Palawan.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Palawan Council for Sustainable Development conducted the inventory on the illegal haul on board a gunboat on Tuesday.
This came a day after charges were filed against the Vietnamese poachers for violating Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
Thirteen Vietnamese fishermen were arrested on Friday last week off Palawan, where authorities said foreign poaching of endangered or protected species has become a major problem.
Sea turtles are protected under Philippine law and catching them is punishable by at least 12 years in jail.
In recent years, Philippine authorities have frequently caught foreigners, often Chinese, catching or buying sea turtles in the waters off Palawan.
Turtles are used in traditional medicine or are served as delicacy in many Asian countries. -- With Agence France-Presse
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