Phl assures US: Gov’t acting on crush videos

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine embassy in Washington assured the United States yesterday that the Philippine government has moved to crack down on producers of “crush” videos.

The embassy has received e-mails from the public expressing concern over the videos, which show animals being crushed under an item or being stepped on. Some of the videos originate in the Philippines.

“The Philippine embassy shares their concern over the disturbing videos and would like to inform the public that the Philippine government has been taking decisive action against the perpetrators of such heinous activities since these were first brought to its attention in 2010,” the embassy said in a statement. 

Victor and Dorma Ridon were charged with violating animal welfare and wildlife conservation laws in 2011 for reportedly producing the videos. They were also charged with violating the anti-child abuse law since minors were shown in some of the videos. Their trial is ongoing.

The embassy said a number of Filipino lawmakers have also proposed legislative measures in the House of Representatives and the Senate to criminalize the production and sale of crush videos and other filmed acts of animal cruelty.