ALAMINOS CITY – A giant rare sea turtle (pawikan) was released to the sea shortly after it was turned over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here.

Celso Salazar, CENRO for western Pangasinan, said the sea turtle was released in Baquioen Bay, Sual, soon after this was turned over to his office by Dr. Carlito Arenas, director of the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Dagupan City.

Arenas, a member of the Rotary Club of Dagupan, said he bought the rare sea turtle from a boy in Sual for P500 so he can turn it over to the DENR to be released to the sea.

While driving back to Dagupan City from Alaminos City, he saw the boy peddling the rare sea turtle by the roadside so he stopped. Arenas knew that the same belongs to an endangered specie.

Salazar estimated the sea turtle to be from 15 to 18 years old.