87IB hands over a Philippine hawk eagle to DENR

By DPAO, 8ID PA
April 15, 2014

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City, Samar – The 87th Infantry (Hinirang) Battalion, Philippine Army handed over to DENR Samar a captured Philippine Hawk Eagle in a ceremony held at 87IB Headquarters, Brgy Polangi, Calbiga, Samar.

The captured Philippine Hawk Eagle was formally handed over by Maj Gen Jet B Velarmino, Commander of the 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division and Lt Col Antonio B. Dulnuan, Commanding Officer of 87IB to Mr. Danilo A Javier, DENR Regional Technical Director, Protected Area, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service based at Tacloban City.

The Philippine Hawk Eagle estimated to be five months old when found by the troops conducting assessment at the hinterlands of Pinabacdao-Sta Rita, Samar area on the effects of the super typhoon Yolanda after it struck the country on November 8, 2013.

The troops named the bird “MURAYAW”, a Waray-Waray word which means “Peace” and nursed its leg wounds for four (4) months. After the bird regained its strength, Lt Col. Dulnuan directed his troops to contact DENR and arranged for the bird’s turn over for its eventual return to the wild where it belongs.

Maj Gen Jet B. Velarmino AFP, the Commander of the 8th Infantry Division said: “While our primary mandate is to protect the people from threat groups, we are fully aware of the national government on its environmental conservation programs and as such, we always provide necessary assistance to DENR. The handing over of the Philippine Hawk Eagle to DENR that was nursed by the 87IB for four (4) months is a manifestation of our support to the environment conservation program of the government.”