By Edgar Alejo, Job Belen
Philippine Daily Inquirer
ON March 31, police and officials of the Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc. (AKFI) arrested a dog trader in a buy-bust operation in Tabaco City in Albay.
Senior Insp. Nelson Llaneta, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the province, said Ernesto Arabe, alias Erning “Ayam” (local term for dog), 42, of Purok 2, Barangay Divino Rostro, Tabaco, was arrested at 7:30 a.m. at the old public market on Juan Luna Street, some 300 meters from City Hall and the police station. Llaneta said at least five dogs were ready to be slaughtered and a dead one was found in the possession of Arabe.
The dogs were confiscated and brought to the city pound in Barangay San Roque for temporary shelter. They were later transferred to the AKFI Rescue Center in Capas, Tarlac.
Greg Quimpo, an AKFI researcher, uncovered the dog trading activities when he posed as a buyer and ordered 10 dogs, one of which was already slaughtered.
Two days earlier, Quimpo left P1,500 as deposit to Arabe and promised to pick up the animals early morning of March 31.
Charged
Arabe was released after police investigation but is now facing charges of violation of Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. If found guilty, he could face a penalty of P1,000 fine, plus imprisonment of not more than six months, Llaneta said. AKFI president Charles Wartenberg, who was with the raiding team, expressed concern over the animal welfare law, which dog traders have ignored until now.
Wartenberg said they were against the indiscriminate transport of dogs. At least 70 percent of dogs being transported die due to suffocation, he said.
“They (dogs) are not only being transported with tied mouths but more so, placed on board the trucks with narrow iron framing that extremely restrains their movements,” Watenberg said.
40 operations
The AKFI, a charitable organization under the (withheld), is registered with the Animal Welfare Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry. It is engaged in the investigation of illegal dog trading in the country as it seeks to protect the animals from abuse and violence.
It has discovered some 40 dog trading operations all over the country since it was established in 2001.
The CIDG arresting team led by Llaneta was also accompanied by AKFI trustee AW, veterinarian Dr. Winston Samaniego, and officer in charge Susan Llanera.
At the time of Arabe’s arrest, the city government was undertaking a massive dog vaccination in line with its anti-rabies campaign. The vaccination started in Barangay Salvacion.
