ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje vowed to protect the wildlife resources as he warned of  criminal prosecutor of  those who ignore the law.

Citing a law that collection, hunting or possession  of wildlife, their by-products and derivatives without proper permit are considered illegal, Paje said he will not hesitate to give violators what are due them.

Authorities raided a restaurant in Pasay City following reports that it served exotic foods and confiscated some 4.25 kilos of wildlife derivatives which included snake skin, snake meat and chopped meat from soft-shelled turtles.

DENR National Capital Region executive director Nilo Tamoria said that a case (violation of the Republic Act 9147 or the Philippine Wildlife and Resources Conservation and Protection Act), has been set to be filed against Hingyak Delicious Seafood and Restaurant for catering exotic foods to customers.

The confiscated derivatives, according to Tamoria, have been turned over to the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau for safekeeping.

Paje said that the move of DENR and NBI was meant to send a strong signal that the government is dead serious in its campaign to protect the wildlife resources to maintain a balanced ecosystem.