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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has filed criminal cases against five pound veterinarians from the city of Manila with the Office of the Ombudsman for allegations of animal cruelty.
PAWS filed complaints of violation of the Animal Welfare Act, as well as cases of gross misconduct, gross negligence of duty, and conduct detrimental to the best interest of the service against Hector David Dimaculangan, deputy director of the Pound and Disease Control Services Division Animals of Manila City Libra; Virgil Benedict De Jesus, the city’s veterinarian; Joey Diaz, supervising veterinarian; Nicanor Santos Jr., member of the Veterinary Inspection Board; and Narcisa Bacanto Javier, member of the Veterinary Inspection Board and head of the Animal Pound and Disease Control Services Division.
The complaints stemmed from reports that officials allegedly put 60 cats inside a two-foot by three-foot cage; subjecting dogs and cats to starvation and dehydration and the inability of the kennel to treat sick and injured animals, including a disfigured dog.
PAWS also said that it received reports on social media that some animals were not euthanized, but rather died from disease or neglect.
PAWS FILES CRUELTY COMPLAINT AGAINST MANILA CITY POUND OFFICERS[AUGUST 25, 2020 – OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN] PAWS has …
Posted by Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Friday Aug 28, 2020
“The number of sick, dying and dead animals that complainants observed inside the facility, as well as social media reports showing empty Manila pound cages shortly after the imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) stated that the animals were not euthanized, but were left to die from neglect and disease ‘perhaps to save the City the expense of having to euthanize them,’ ”PAWS wrote in a Facebook post Saturday.
Under the 17-page complaint, PAWS requested the preventive suspension of the officers, as well as the disqualification from holding the position.
“Order the preventive suspension of the defendants while this case is investigated to prevent them from using their power and positions to manipulate documents and other evidence, particularly in Manila City Pound itself,” the complaint reads.
“Dismiss respondents from their service, cancel their eligibility, lose their retirement benefits, perpetually disqualify them from holding public office, and prohibit them from taking the civil service exam, among others,” he added.
PAWS chief Anna Cabrera said cruelty to animals must end and stray animals must be treated humanely even within kilos.
“As we present the case to the Ombudsman, we trust that Mayor Isko [Moreno] it would take urgent measures and stop the ongoing inhumane practices towards animals that are being committed by the officials in charge of the pound of the city of Manila, ”he said in a statement.
INQUIRER.net has sought comment from the Manila government authorities, but there was no response at the time of publication.
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