Charges readied against importer of deadly piranhas

Criminal charges are to be filed against a Quezon City resident for illegally importing and trading 40 piranhas, a flesh-eating South American fish species, the department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Monday. Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes said the owner of the confiscated piranhas, Leonardo Marcelino, must face criminal charges for violating Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wild Life Conservation Act. The 40 live flesh-eating South American fish were seized by the members of the National Anti-Environment Crime Task Force (NAECTAF) at Marcelino’s house in Xavierville subdivision in Quezon City on Friday. The piranhas were turned-over to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for investigation. Reyes said keeping piranhas is against the law and he will not tolerate such act even though a resident have bought it from stores. The importation of Piranhas, which have lacerating teeth that can take big bites out of the flesh of the victims, are banned. They are usually found in the fresh waters of northern South America, but could adapt easily to new environment. - GMANews.TV