Marinduque residents alarmed over 'dog execution order'

Residents of a barangay in Buenavista, Marinduque on Wednesday expressed their anger after their dogs were killed by authorities based on an execution order issued by the local government.

The objective of the order is to limit the number of stray dogs roaming the streets in the village.

According to JM Encinas’ report on Stand for Truth, a man in Barangay Yook, Buenavista was caught on video shooting a dog point-blank while another individual was seen carrying the body of a slain dog.

“Dumating po si kagawad, meron po siyang kasamang isang lalaki na ang sabi po nila mag-iinject po sila ng vaccine. Para po yung anti-rabies po para sa mga aso. Pumayag po kami noon kasi i-injectionan daw po eh,” Sandy, not her real name, related.

"Pagkatapos po noon, dumating po ‘yung doktor. Sabi po nila doktor daw po ‘yun, sabi po nung kasama niya. Meron po siyang dalang baril. Ang buong akala po namin, ‘yung vaccine, ‘yung pang-injection, ilalagay niya doon sa baril. So nagulat po kami nung nakita po namin ‘yung aso na duguan na siya,” she added.

Sandy was stunned after witnessing what transpired.

“Sabi ko po, kawawa naman ‘yung aso. Ang sagot naman po nung doktor, kung naaawa kayo sa aso, dapat itinali niyo. Ang sagot ko naman po, bakit, wala po ba akong karapatan maawa sa aso,” she said.

In other barangays such as Malbog, some residents voluntarily allowed their dogs to be shot as they can no longer care for them.

The Provincial veterinarian was also the one shooting the dogs.

“’Yung grandmother ko po, ‘yung lola ko po, nag confirm po siya na pumayag po siya na i-pabaril ‘yung apat kong aso. Pero hindi ko po alam kasi sabi ko po sa kanya bago 'ko umalis ng bahay, Nay wag niyo papatay ‘yung mga aso ko,” Jun, not his real name, said.

“Pumunta na po ako ng tindahan then pagbalik ko po ng bahay dahil may pumutok na po sa tapat ng bahay namin, pagbalik ko po, patay na po ‘yung tatlo kong aso,” he added.

According to Jun, he saw another man dumping the body of the dogs in front of the barangay hall.

“Pumunta po ulit siya sa barangay hall then binaril niya po ‘yung mga nagalaw na aso kasi po akala po siguro niya buhay pa,” he said.

Restituto Pabalat, barangay Malbog chairman, related that dog owners failed to look after their pets and that there have been several incidents that dogs have been run over by motorcycles.

In a separate interview, the animal welfare group Love and Hope for Stray Animals is opposed to the killing of stray dogs.

Marinduque Provincial Police Officer in Charge Police Colonel William Santos VI said the incident is under investigation.

"We came to know it pa lang noong naglabasan 'yan sa Facebook, hindi 'yan nakipag coordinate kung sino man ang gumawa noon sa police station natin sa Buenavists," he said.

Stand for Truth tried to get a statement from the provincial veterinarian and Mayor Nancy Madrigal.

Watch the video to know more.