Palace reminds local execs of responsibility to watch out vs dog, horse fights

Published April 9, 2012 12:32pm

Malacañang has reminded local government executives of their role in preventing dog- or horse-fight rackets operated by gambling syndicates, following the arrest of eight Koreans operating an online dog-fighting racket in Laguna.

In a radio interview over the weekend, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte stresed that local executives are in charge of enforcing the laws in their own backyard.

“Sila ang first in line pag may kaganapan sa kanilang area. Pinapalaala natin [na] bawal and it is punishable under the law na magkaroon ng dog fights of this nature,” Valte government-run dzRB radio on Sunday.

Valte cited Section 6 of the Animal Welfare Act, which prohibits the torture or neglect of animals, “or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights.”

Under Section 8 of the same law, violators face imprisonment of six months to two years, and/or a fine of P1,000.

“Let us remind local executives, apart from the national government, you are the ones in charge of enforcing the law,” she said.

Last week, authorities charged eight Korean nationals for allegedly operating a dogfight arena in Laguna.

The eight Koreans were caught in a raid in Calauan town, even as six of them had been arrested for the same offense last December.

Some 30 pit bulls recovered from the dogfight arena were later sent to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: horsefights, dogfights, paws, animalrights, animalabuse