GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 27 Aug) — Conservationists are urging caution and collaboration after Malungon Mayor Reynaldo “Bong” Constantino launched a controversial bounty program offering cash rewards to residents who capture or kill king cobras (banakon).
The declaration of the “giyera kontra banakon” (war against king cobras) campaign follows the death of an eight-year-old girl in Barangay Upper Mainit in Malungon, Sarangani province Thursday last week.
The girl was bitten by a king cobra, one of the most venomous snakes in the world, while fetching water at a river with her father and pet dogs around 2 p.m.
Her father, Noli Nemiria, told the Malungon Information Office (MIO) that the dogs startled the snake, which then struck the child. Amid the chaos, he killed the snake.
Due to the remote location and the strength of the venom, the child succumbed before reaching the hospital, despite her father’s desperate efforts to save her.
The tragedy prompted the local government to announce the bounty program as a public safety measure.
In the report posted via the MIO official Facebook page on Tuesday, Constantino said in the vernacular: “Protect yourselves from these creatures. And if you can bring them here, you will receive a reward.”
Mixed reactions from the community
The announcement drew mixed reactions online. Some residents welcomed the program as a potential life-saving measure, while others cautioned that untrained residents could be bitten while attempting to capture or kill snakes.
Mindanao-based biologist Andrei Rosales described the bounty as a short-term fix.
“This is a Band-Aid solution to the real problem. Many snakebites happen when people attempt to kill or handle snakes. Expert consultations should be done to prevent worsening the problem, including understanding the snake’s ecology and the root causes of human-wildlife conflicts,” Rosales wrote.
Social media users echoed these concerns, urging the local government to consult experts in biodiversity conservation to develop safer, more effective strategies.
MIO doubles down on campaign
Following criticism from conservationists, MIO defended the bounty program, framing the initiative as a necessary measure to protect human lives after multiple attacks.
The MIO said that several innocent people—farmers, housewives, and mostly poor students—have been attacked by the venomous snake. “Unfortunately, before they could seek assistance, everyone was pronounced dead and deceased,” it wrote.
MIO further invited critics to discuss solutions directly with grieving families, arguing that prioritizing the preservation of king cobras over human safety “can never be that simple or acceptable.”
Conservationists call for collaboration
In response to the declaration of war against the snake species, Wildlife Matters Organization Inc., a nonprofit conservation organization, through its King Cobra Initiative, issued a public statement on its official Facebook page.
The environmental group expressed its condolences to the bereaved family of the girl while urging caution against the program against king cobras.
“We grieve with the community for the loss and understand the fear that incidents like this bring. At the same time, we believe the best way forward is by working together—through education, preparedness, and safe response practices that protect both people and wildlife,” the organization said.
Wildlife Matters emphasized that king cobras are a vulnerable species whose ecological role as apex predators is critical, helping regulate populations of other snakes, including venomous species.
Indiscriminate killing, they warned, could disrupt ecological balance and increase encounters with humans.
The organization also recommended safer alternatives, including community education on avoiding and safely responding to snake encounters, and habitat management to reduce attractants near homes.
They also suggested training of responders to safely relocate snakes, and improved medical preparedness through first aid education and stronger emergency response systems, among others.
“We believe safety and conservation can go hand in hand. Protecting people must always come first, but this can be achieved without declaring war on wildlife. True resilience comes from equipping communities with knowledge, preparedness, and compassion—for both people and the ecosystems we depend on,” the organization concluded.
Under Philippine law, specifically the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 9147), the killing, collection, or trade of protected wildlife, including king cobras, is prohibited. Violations of the act may result in administrative, civil, or criminal penalties. (Guia Rebollido / MindaNews)
