Ozamiz couple and friends risk lives to rescue animals in Marawi

Using just his fishing boat, Ozamiz resident Bienvenido "Dong Tatin" Garcia and his wife have gone in and out of Marawi three times since June to feed and rescue animals.

"Para naman matulungan, kawawa naman 'yung iba, kasi nire-rescue namin talaga 'yung mga tuta atsaka yung may sakit," Garcia told GMA News Online on Saturday.

"We've been dog lovers for a long time...Hangga't mayroon pang aso doon, hangga't 'di pa nakakabalik ang mga amo nila, babalik at babalik pa kami," Mrs. Garcia added.

Marawi City's residents have not been able to return to their homes for nearly three months since Maute-ISIS members engaged in an armed conflict that has claimed more than 600 lives and displaced up to 400,000 people.

According to Garcia, most of the animals roaming the abandoned barangays in Marawi were starved and traumatized.

Poppy, a dog who looks nearly unrecognizable after one month in their care, is only one of them.

Above photo: Poppy right after rescue. Below photo: Poppy after a month in the Garcias' care

As early as 4:30 a.m., the couple together with five  companions would cross Lake Lanao from Ozamiz carrying three cages, dog food, a de-wormer and a "bitik," a pole used to catch animals.

After their six-hour journey crossing the lake, they would be welcomed into Marawi by government personnel at checkpoints, where they would be interrogated. 

"Basta makasagot ka nang maayos, maganda naman ang intention namin, pinapapasok kami," Garcia narrates.

Apart from their strict orders, soldiers are usually reluctant to let them through; the risk of stray bullets other terrorist elements roaming the area remain high.

"Minsan ina-assist kami. 'Yung last, hinatid kami sa may kalye, sabi niya, 'yuko ka nang konti' kasi nga may mga stray bullets," Garcia says, referring to their August 15-visit, their latest.

"Walang sumasama sa amin talaga 'pag nanghuhuli, kasi hindi naman pwedeng iwanan ang mga pwesto nila kasi kritikal, baka daw may maka-lusot," he adds.

Their group has reached as far as Barangay Amai Pakpak, which was along the hazardous boundary between the safe zone and the conflict area.

"Butas-butas 'yung bahay, parang binabarena 'yung bahay, mga wasak 'yung bintana, mga sasakyan nila, nasa kalsada, maraming hindi na magagamit," Garcia describes.

The rescuers are told to go no further than Amai Pakpak because a high-powered arsenal remained coating the central portion of Marawi occupied by the terrorists.

"Ay grabe...lahat ng putok, nandoon. Doon sa Amai Pakpak, lahat madidinig mo na doon. Malapit na iyon, basta mag-putukan talaga sila," Garcia shares.

Mrs. Garcia recalled a time in June, when they had to run for cover; during one of their initial rescues, when battle was at its prime, a military aircraft flew right above them.

According to the Garcias, even the animals had grown accustomed to the hostile environment.

"Parang wild na 'yung mga aso, hindi na nagpapalapit, sa mga tao...Marunong din mag-tago 'yung mga aso, pag magka-putukan, pumapasok [sila] doon sa loob, sa mga bahay. Biglang nawawala eh," he says, adding that he could not imagine what became of the animals trapped in the conflict area.

"Sana matapos na para, kawawa naman 'yung mga aso, para maalagaan naman ng mga may-ari talaga," he adds.

The animal shelter in Ozamiz

With Martial Law pulling all Mindanaoans home before 9:00 p.m., Dong Tatin said it was important for his group to pull out of Marawi as early as 2:00 p.m.

If they're not allowed a vehicle, they would carry all the animals they could fit in the cages back to the boat by foot.

"Basta mapuno 'yung mga cage na tatlo, kailangan mapuno namin iyon," he said.

Rescued animals in their cages, making their way to safety on the boat

Aside from their two children back at home, the Garcias have more than 40 dogs to feed and take care of.

The 47-year-old fisherman said it was going to take a lot more than exhaustion to get him to stop rescuing animals, much like providing for his family through fishing.

"Isa lang ang katawan ko...pero parang nakakatanggal ng pagod," Dong said.

"Natutuwa ako, tuwing dumarating ako dito sa bahay, galing dagat, tanggal ang pagod, pag nakikita mong dinidilaan ka ng aso mo, nalilibang na [ako]," he  added.

The Garcia-led rescuers

The Garcias admit it's not easy coming up with food for their growing family.

They say the love for animals and animal lovers alike fuels the couple's sacrifice.

"Kahit mga 20 dogs, kaya ko pang alagaan, mame-maintain ko pa iyon, pero sa 40-plus, kawawa 'yung iba," he says.

Mrs. Garcia said they rely on donations and solicited funds to sustain both the shelter, and later, the rescues.

"Sana matulungan nila kami since kami 'yung nakakapasok, or in terms of the needs of the animals," she said.

They decided go forth with the initiative after numerous online requests and seeing an earlier GMA News report showing the dozens of animals huddled in one the area, Mindanao State University (MSU).

"I'm simply glad someone took the risk of doing it!" said Prof. Notch Herrera. "I understand other concerned people here in Iligan are also helping Dong & company in their rescue efforts."

As of the moment, there is no designated animal welfare group in Marawi, nor is there an estimate as to how many animals left in peril inside the city. — LA, GMA News

If you want to help by donating or to adopt a rescued dog, please contact Bienvenido "Dong Tatin" Garcia, Jr.. +639062650017. Adoption is free.