Justice pursued: Rap filed for dog's death in Mountain Province

Police in Sadanga, Mountain Province, have successfully filed a complaint for the violation of the Animal Welfare Act before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in connection with the beating to death of Axle, an American bully dog, weeks ago in Barangay Saclit.

Police Col. Marcelo Polig, the police's provincial director in the Mountain Province, said cases have been filed twice before but these were not accepted due to insufficient evidence.

"Despite the many difficulties encountered, the Sadanga Municipal Police Station (MPS) exerted relentless effort to gather evidence and comply with all the necessary requirements of the Office of the Prosecutor," Polig said in a statement.

"The case was filed twice but was not accepted due to insufficient evidence. Rather than giving up, the Sadanga MPS continued its investigation, strengthened the evidence, and remained committed to seeking justice. On the third filing, their perseverance paid off, and the case was finally accepted," he added.

Axle was beaten to death after the dog supposedly urinated on the suspect in Barangay Saclit on Dec. 4.

The viral video showed the suspect hitting the dog several times with a wooden stick in front of several people.

Despite the dog’s attempt to escape the suspect, the man chased it and brutally struck the hapless dog to death

The Sadanga Municipal Police Station formally referred the case on December 15, 2025, for violation of the Animal Welfare Act to the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Bontoc, Mountain Province.

“This marked a significant step toward accountability and justice for the animals involved,” Polig said.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has urged witnesses to come forward regarding the recent death of Axle, condemning the killing and demanding justice.

"As a dog lover, my heart is filled with deep gratitude for everyone who stood up, spoke out, and helped bring justice in this case of cruelty to animals. What happened was painful and heartbreaking, but the compassion, courage, and unity shown by many remind us that humanity still stands strong," Polig said. –NB, GMA Integrated News