Angeles City, Pampanga. INQUIRER FILES
MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — The court has fined three men who slaughtered and cooked a dog as “pulutan” (snacks accompanying drinks) in nearby Angeles City a year ago.
In a two-page judgment issued on February 13 by Judge Victor Soriao of the Angeles City Municipal Trial Court Branch, Amorsolo Guevarra, Renato Halili, and Jerry Mari were found guilty of accusations filed against them and were ordered to pay P6,000 each for violating Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
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The city government of Angeles filed the case against the three men on February 9 last year, five days after the trio were caught killing and cooking a dog in Lourdes Sur village.
In a statement on Thursday, February 29, the Angeles City government said this is the first time in the history of the local government to win a filed criminal case of this nature.
Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. considers the conviction of the three men as a victory for the cause of animal welfare.
“Angeles City is a refuge for stray canines and felines rescued by the City Veterinary Office, and I hope that this victory will serve as a deterrent to those who would commit similar acts of cruelty,” the statement quoted the mayor as saying.
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The officer-in-charge of the Angeles City veterinary office Dr. Christian Xyric Arcilla, who witnessed the animal cruelty done by the trio, led the filing of charges against them on the directive of Lazatin. He filed the case along with city legal officer lawyer Ralph Macalino.
The city government said that it was Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicenta Vega-Cabigting who informed Lazatin’s office about the slaughtering and cooking of the dog after receiving a report from concerned citizens in Lourdes Sur village on Feb. 4, 2023.