 An endangered sea turtle was freed along the shores of barangay Ilocanos in the City of San Fernando on January 13, 2008.
After it was pinned by environment personnel with monitoring tag, the creature measuring 36 inches in length and 33 inches in width, was released by villagers and local officials led by Mayor Pablo C. Ortega.
Mayor Ortega said that some fishermen caught the turtle over the weekend while fishing along the gulf. Unaware of the law on sea turtles, the fisher folks nearly butchered the creature when a certain Antonio Ordoño, stopped them by informing them that the creature is an endangered specie.
Ordoño then reported to the Office of Mayor Ortega about the presence of the sea turtle. The Mayor caused the immediate release of the turtle upon informing the City Environment Office.
Memorandum Order Number 6 series of 1982 declared the total ban on the exploitation of sea turtles. As early as 1979, the protection of marine turtles was officially implemented by virtue of Executive Order No. 542, creating the Task Force Pawikan. |
