‘No cruelty in shows’

The operators of a dolphin show maintained that they were not cruel to the marine creatures and that they had the necessary permits for the 2010 performances.

Saying they were unable to air their side during an initial probe, the maintainers of the Angels of the Sea Dolphin and Sea Lion Show  pushed for a reinvestigation of the charges.

This was after the summons from the Quezon City prosecutors’ office was sent to the wrong address, based on the claim of  Jose Avelino and Ma. Carla Mamburam who also asked a Quezon City court to suspend the proceedings and revoke the arrest warrants issued against them.

“Contrary to private complainants’ accusations, the accused did not commit cruelty to animals …,” they said in their motion.

They filed the pleading through lawyers Shirley Alinea and Michael Thor Singson before Judge Caridad Walse-Lutero of the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 34.

Avelino and Mamburam were charged with violating Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act based on a complaint filed by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and Earth Island Institute. Julie M. Aurelio