CEBU, Philippines - A three-meter python found coiled around a branch of a star apple tree with a dead cat in its mouth, was caught with the help of the Mandaue City Special Tactics and Weapons team members yesterday dawn in barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City.
According to Virgie Descallar, 68, her family was awakened at past 11 p.m. Sunday by dogs barking loudly and her husband, Ruben, went out of the house to investigate.
When he found nothing unusual, he went back inside. But the dogs were at it again. So he went out once more, this time taking with him a flashlight.
“Di man dyud moundang og aw-aw among mga binuhing iro ug unusual kaayo to para namo busa gisusi na sad pagbalik ni Ruben ug nagdala og flashlight ug mao na toy iyang nakit-an nga ang sawa nagpulipos na sa sanga ug nagtangag sa iring,†Descallar said.
However, not one in the neighborhood was an expert in snakes.
Barangay tanods, the police, and the SWAT team came but they were no experts either.
They had to wait for an hour hoping the snake would slither down.
Since it remained motionless, three SWAT members decided to climb up the tree to try to bring it down.
The branch where the python was gave in to the men’s total weight, but the SWAT men held on to some other branches to avoid falling down.
Barangay tanods wasted no time in taping the python’s mouth and then put it in a large sack.
It was taken to the SWAT office and transferred to an empty dog cage.
By yesterday afternoon, the DENR already had custody of it.
The Descallar family and the police believe that the python was kept as a pet and had escaped.
“Murag binuhi to siya kay hamis man kaayo og panit,†Virgie said. (FREEMAN)