OLONGAPO CITY — Elements of the Maritime Police Station here arrested a man selling a wildlife species in an entrapment operation in Barangay Barretto on Nov. 7.
In his report to Regional Maritime Unit 3 chief Col. Oliver S. Tanseco, Lt.
Mariel S. Cuizon identified the suspect as Mark Kris Zuñiga y Hilario of Apostol St., Purok 3, Barangay East Dirita, San Antonio, Zambales.
Cuizon said that prior to the entrapment, the suspect and the RMU3 cyber patrol team had several conversations on the sale of one leopard gecko on an online buy-and-sell group named Olongapo Zambales Exotic using the facebook account of Mark Kris Zuñiga. The suspect and the poseur-buyer agreed on the sale for P1,800.
The suspect arrived at the scene riding his tricycle together with the leopard gecko inside an acrylic closure. The arrest came after the suspect failed to show any pertinent documents/permit from the DENR.
Confiscated from the suspect were the leopard gecko, one Real Me smartphone with estimated value of Php18,000, one Kawasaki Barako II 175 tricycle with estimated value of P130,000, the bust money composed of one genuine P100 bill and boodle money worth P1,700.
The rescued wildlife species was turned-over to CENRO Olongapo City.
The suspect is now under custody of Olongapo City MARPSTA facing charges for violation of Section 27 of RA 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) in relation to RA 10175 (Cyber Crime).
