Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced Wednesday that law enforcement has disrupted an illegal wildlife trade network across Northern Luzon following a series of rescue and entrapment operations.

The operations, conducted by the PNP Maritime Group in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), spanned the provinces of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

Nartatez said the crackdown is part of a broader effort to enforce the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, also known as Republic Act 9147.

On 1 February, maritime police in Cagayan rescued a Philippine long-tailed macaque after a resident voluntarily surrendered the animal upon learning that unauthorized possession is illegal. The monkey was secured by personnel from the Regional Maritime Unit 2 and turned over to the DENR for rehabilitation and eventual release.

The following day, police conducted two separate stings targeting traffickers. In the morning, authorities arrested an individual during an entrapment operation in Barangay San Simeon, Curimao, Ilocos Norte.

Later that evening, a suspect identified by the alias “Fed” was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Ayusan Norte, Vigan City. Investigators allege the suspect used the internet to trade protected species, leading to additional charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

“Environmental protection is essential to national security because the health of our ecosystems directly affects communities and future generations,” Nartatez said. He stressed that the PNP will continue to intensify enforcement against those attempting to profit from protected species, noting that protecting wildlife is vital to maintaining ecological balance and the livelihoods of citizens.

All confiscated wildlife is transferred to the custody of the DENR for proper handling. The arrested suspects remain at their respective maritime police stations for documentation and legal processing. Nartatez noted that these operations align with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to safeguard the nation’s biodiversity and demonstrate the PNP’s “Makakalikasan” core value through inter-agency collaboration.