Dogs are pets, not ‘pulutan’

MANILA, Philippines - Recently, branch 33 of Quezon City RTC presided by Judge Pacis on Case Number 00806, John Albert Perez, Ernesto Carual were convicted of violating the Animal Welfare Act and were directed to pay a fine of P2,000 each.

“We can’t help but have mixed feelings about the case,” said atty. Roy Kayaban, PAWS legal counsel. “We are happy that justice has been served, but we are afraid that this type of cruelty will happen over and over again because of the dismal penalties of the Animal Welfare Act. But, we believe that the amount of fine and the length of prison terms are no longer the deterrents they used to be. Penalties must be increased.”