The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested 10 people allegedly engaged in illegal wildlife trade, recovering a trove of pearls and endangered giant clams that they were selling for a whopping P97 million. The pearls and clams were reportedly sourced from Palawan. The suspects, who were from Tarlac province, were ready with pearls weighing up to 30 kilos each. The bureau started planning the entrapment operation in December last year after receiving information that certain individuals from Tarlac were looking for buyers of pearls and giant clams locally known as Taklobo (scientific name: Tridacna gigas).

See, A. B. (2017, March 15). NBI nabs giant pearl sellers. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A5.