8 suspected sea turtle poachers arrested in Tawi-Tawi

Authorities arrested eight sea turtles poachers on Friday off Tawi-Tawi province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Citing police authorities on Sibutu Island, GMA News stringer Peewee Bacuno said several dead sea turtles (pawikan) were seized form the poachers using three motor boats.

Also seized from the suspects were equipment to catch sea turtles.

An initial police investigation showed that the suspects' boats were intercepted at about 6 a.m. off Sibutu, an island municipality near.

Authorities believed the turtles were newly caught as their injuries were still fresh.

The suspects are facing charges for violation of R.A. 9147, also known as Philippine Wildlife Protection and Conservation Act.

Police were set to turn over the suspects to Environment authorities in Bonggao town. --LBG, GMA News