MANILA: Philippine authorities said on Tuesday they had seized a huge haul of more than 1,000 helmet shells from a protected species of sea snail which were being shipped for sale.
Police and fisheries bureau personnel seized 106 boxes, each containing at least 15 of the shells, on the poverty-stricken southern island of Jolo on Saturday following a tip-off, the fisheries bureau said.
The large shells, from the Cassidae family of sea snails, are valued for their beauty and are often used as decorations and as fashion accessories.
The boxes of shells were just about to be shipped for sale in the major cities of Cebu and Manila when they were seized.
The fisheries bureau said it was seeking charges of illegally trading an endangered species against the trader, who was arrested for transporting the shells.
If convicted, the suspect could face as many as 20 years in jail, the bureau added.
Actor faces rape charges
MANILA: Model Deniece Cornejo filed a rape complaint against actor Vhong Navarro before the Taguig Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.
Filing the affidavit, Cornejo took an oath on the credibility of the charges against Navarro while accompanied by her lawyer Howard Calleja.
Calleja said in a radio report that her client experienced “trauma” from the incident that delayed the filing of the case.
Calleja said that the security footage from Forbeswood Heights where the January 22 attack occurred only presents the partial truth to the public.
“What we have here are eyewitnesses that can tell you the whole story,” Calleja said, claiming that the videos may have been tampered with.
He also maintained that the victim in the drama is his client, Cornejo, and not Navarro, who has been mauled by businessman Cedric Lee and other companions.
The filing of the rape complaint came after the National Bureau of Investigation filed several charges against Cornejo and Cedric Lee based on the affidavit submitted by Navarro on the mauling incident at Forbeswood Heights condominium building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City last January 22.
Agencies
