Members of the Philippine Shooting Team - Killing Phil Protected Species

**theveed** · January 18th, 2008 10:31 PM

http://onlovinganimals.blogspot.com/

When a member of the animal or plant kingdom goes extinct, there will be no second chances. Evolution will simply not repeat itself. There are reportedly eighty bird species that are unique to the Philippines and many of them have already made it to the endangered list. And we, to a great extent, have indiscrimate hunting to thank for it. In spite of two national laws protecting Filipino animals, the carnage continues unabated. The killings could occur as arbitrarily as guys getting together for macho time, or as a result of a well-planned hunting trip involving speed boats, bird callers, and camouflaged outfits. Either way, the end result is the same. Filipino wildlife, our natural treasures, inches closer to a state of irreparable vacancy.

Not too long ago, we learned about the Bacolod Air Rifle Club (BARC) whose unbridled killing of Filipino birds and ducks became the subject of an online petition calling for immediate government intervention. My post on that most disturbing crime appears HERE. Since early December 2007, the BARC has taken down their website in an attempt to cut their losses and cover their tracks. In a desperate bid to avoid culpability, they put out a statement claiming that they never actually existed. The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), after it was notified of the killings, surged ahead to take the lead in the investigation. Bird and animal lovers like myself are expecting a just and proper resolution to that crisis.

But bad news can get worse, and alibis become dream-like.

Take the case of the three members of the Philippine shooting team who are now accused of violating the Philippine Animal Welfare Act and Section 27 of the Republic Act 9147. It became very evident that photographs, ones they took themselves, point to the fact that they were involved in hunting protected wildlife. Talk about shooting one's self in the foot! The photographs show Tet Lara, Jade De Guzman and Mike De Guzman enjoying a joyride paid for, in blood and misery, by the very Filipino wildlife that those laws meant to protect. The victims lie dead, hung like fruit, or bundled together like dirty laundry (See photo above). By the trio's own doing, the photographs made it to the web in albums posted at the site of PhilippineShotgun.com. They rested on their laurels, content, happy, and proud. Surely, no one would make a stink.

Read whole story http://onlovinganimals.blogspot.com/...onono::nonono:

Here is a TV news report about the killings, in case you have not seen it:

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/16671/Ka...o-Bird-Hunting

**theveed** · January 18th, 2008 10:34 PM

What's your take on their response?

Here is the statement from Tet Lara, Jade and Mike DeGuzman:
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:56:53 -0800 (PST) > From: tet lara >>Subject: Shooting statement> To: kapusomojessicasoho *gmanetwork. com>>>
The pictures in question were taken from a defunct spoof website from last year. It was not meant to be viewed seriously as it clearly stated "there was an expedition with Kumander Robot in Abu Sayyaf Territory", which is obviously fake. These photos are being circulated, not by us, but by some unknown group or groups wanting to blame the decline of bird population on someone. We never stated that we shot the birds - the birds were already dead upon our arrival. Its true that dead birds and people posing with shotguns were in the same picture, and does not look good. Admittedly, this was a poor judgment call. However, to say that the Philippine Team shot down near-endangered birds by merely looking at these photos, is jumping to conclusions. Again, we want to apologize to those offended by the bad-taste photos and the portrayal of the > misconcepcion that its OK to shoot philippine ducks. It is NOT OK. We wish to promote our CLAY SHOOTING sport as an alternative to shooting birds, since it is clearly illegal in the Philippines.

rv · January 18th, 2008 11:08 PM

they're obviousely lying

**theveed** · January 18th, 2008 11:50 PM

1) Why were they wearing hunting camo?
2) They go that far out of town for clay shooting?
3) With bird flu pandemic such a recent case, is it smart to hold that many "already dead when we got there" birds?

Who are they trying to fool?

**scharnhorst** · January 18th, 2008 11:54 PM

how convenient of them to just come across such a huge number of dead philippine ducks.

**theveed** · January 19th, 2008 12:09 AM

same species pa eh no?

**suv** · January 19th, 2008 12:14 AM

Nagpapalusot yung member ng Philippine Shooting Team....

**Mardim** · January 19th, 2008 12:26 AM

tell that to the h-world marines. we are not as stupid as they are

**baludoy** · January 19th, 2008 12:39 AM

huling-huli na, nag-papalusot pa

i wonder what will they do with all those poor ducks. will they be feasting on them? selling them? or what?

**v6dreamer** · January 19th, 2008 01:50 AM

Mga trigger happy. Ano kaya kung sila ang gagawing pato at ibon at sila naman ngayon ang hu-huntingin. If you look closely on the video ni wala silang safety basta baril sila ng baril at may bahay doon sa kabila. Kung may matamaan na tao doon, kasama din kaya sa mga collateral damage na ibon at pato.

Sinungaling pa yong babai nadatnan na patay na daw ang mga pato at ibon na iyon nong sila napunta doon. So meaning namulot lang sila ng patay na ibon at hindi sila guilty. Peke pala ang prize thropy nila kung ganoon.