BUKIDNON NEWS | KITAOTAO BUKIDNON | CONTROVERSIAL NEWS IN BUKIDNON – The mayor of the Municipality of Kitaotao, Bukidnon has denied the allegations linking him and the Kitaotao municipal government to the illegal trading of the Philippine gecko or tuko.

According to a report, Kitaotao Mayor Rodito Rafisura said that he had no hand in the illegal tuko trade. Rafisura admitted, however, that he heard of several reports of tuko sellers, tuko buyers and illegal gecko transactions in Barangay Sinuda.

The selling of tuko is a violation of a law.

Mayor Rafisura said

“I have heard reports on this, but it is not true that we’re behind on the matter. In fact, Bukidnon is not a place for geckos,” Rafisura said in Tagalog.

The Kitaotao mayor said he is closely monitoring the activities of Kitaotao municipal government employees and vows to surrender to law enforcement authorities anyone he finds to be involved in this illegal tuko trade.

As stipulated in Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, collection, trade, or transport of geckos without appropriate permits from the Protected Areas and Wild Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is prohibited.

The crime carries the penalty of up to four years imprisonment.

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