Bill filed to ban fetish killing of animals

MANILA, Philippines - A senior party-list lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to stop the perverse practice of inflicting cruelty to animals, mostly by bikini-clad women, and selling videos of the same to foreign sexual fetishists.

Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng cited reports that some Filipino women, mostly members of syndicates, are selling videos showing them crushing animals with their stiletto heels for as much as $1,000 or about P43,000 per show.

Some “animal crush video shows” are done via live streaming on the Internet where customers can make various requests.

In filing House Bill 4595 entitled “An Act To Prohibit Animal Crush Video and Providing Penalties for Violations,” Tieng noted that Filipinos have been found to be involved in a growing world fetish for “animal crush videos,” which are shown in websites and social networking sites.

“The crush videos, which visually depict the abuse and killing of animals, cater to sexual fetishists who want to watch and hear animals being crushed to death. The hapless victims are mostly dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, snakes, and frogs, depending on the specification of the patron. The video features Filipino women perpetrating the torture who are scantily clad either in lingerie, two-piece bikinis...” Tieng said in the bill’s explanatory note.

“Many animal crush videos are obscene in the sense that the depictions, taken as a whole, appeal to the prurient interest in sex, are patently offensive, and lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Furthermore, the videos are heinous, barbaric and completely unacceptable,” he said.

Under Tieng’s proposed law, it will be unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, market, advertise, exchange, or distribute an animal crush video here or abroad.

Violators of the proposed law shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years, or a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P300,000 or both.

“All forms of animal cruelty are frowned upon by society. The abuse and exploitation of animals have become rampant and digital. Probably the extreme form of animal cruelty nowadays is seen on animal crush videos,” Tieng said.

“It is hard to believe that this sort of thing even exists, and that a law is needed to prevent it. Animal torture is outrageously disturbing. Common decency and morality dictates that those engaged in it should not be profiting from it, they should be imprisoned. While the torture of defenseless animals is in itself despicable, numerous studies also show cruelty to animals is often the first step leading to violence against people. This law is one step toward ending this cycle of violence,” he said.

Earlier, the Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) revealed that some syndicates were behind the production of animal crush videos which they sell to foreigners for as much as $1,000.