Students: Black Shama study was ‘authorized’

Biology graduates of Cebu Normal University yesterday gave their side on charges that they violated the law on wildlife protection when they captured and killed eight Black Shama birds for a research study.

They said they had to dissect the bird’s stomach to study the contents in order to advance scientific knowledge of the diet of the endangered bird species.

During a clarificatory hearing at the office of Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro , the CNU graduates showed records that they informed the Central Cebu Protected Landscape-Protected Management Board (CCPL-PAMB) of their research methodology during their Oct. 9, 2013 meeting.

The record is important because killing wildlife, especially endangered species, is prohibited unless it is conducted during an “authorized research”, one of the exceptions in the wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147).

A complaint was filed last month against three former CNU students and four professors, including their thesis advisor by the Protected Area Wildlife Division (PAWD) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.

“Many members of the board expressed concern when they knew that nine birds or three per study site will be slaughtered in this study (of the CNU students)” the minutes of the October 9 meeting reads.

In the record, an Assistant Protected Area Superintendent (PASU) warned the students of the “possible reaction from the residents and non-government organization conservation groups” that their study might create.

The official noted that residents were already lectured by the CCPL staff and NGOs conservation groups that hunting birds and other fauna are strictly prohibited in the protected area.

The eight respondents including the students’ thesis adviser Edward Laurence L. Opeña, members of the thesis review panel Nimfa R. Pansit, Joezen D. Corrales, and Elena Lozano of CNU and Prof. Richard Parilla of the University of San Carlos, appeared before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

They all came with their lawyers, who were retained in their personal capacity.

(The state-run university cannot represent the faculty in this legal battle, said Bibiana Isok, CNU vice president for academic affairs in a separate interview.)

DENR officials who filed the complaint were also subpoenaed but did not attend.

During the closed-door hearing, Prosecutor Castro said the students explained that they were issued an amended Wildlife Gratuitous Permit that allowed them to kill the birds for research.

“They (respondents) will have to submit additional evidence to support their claim,” Castro said.
The respondents were given until Friday to submit their counter affidavits.

Protected Areas and Wildlife Division head Ariel Rica and other officials will be asked to comment on the student’s allegation that their research methodology was explained during the PAMB meeting before a grauitious permit was issued to them.

The three biology students Ninokay L. Beceril, Elrich D. Sydney Barinque and Ephem Jun A. Fernandez graduated last March and are now working in the private secor.

The permit was signed by DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo who presided in that meeting.

The Wildlife Gratuitous Permit issued on Jan. 15, 2014 did not grant permission to kill the Black Shama birds. Under the permit’s terms, the birds were supposed to be set free after use in the study.

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Cebu university students, professors in trouble for killing 8 endangered birds for research paper