[WARNING: SENSITIVE CONTENT]

A chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in Pilar town, Province of Capiz is now in hot water for animal cruelty along with three others. 

A video uploaded by the Roxas Animal Welfare Society through its social media account showed that a dog was killed savagely by hanging it from a support structure to a basketball backboard.

The video recorded the guttural howls of the dog in pain while a man was pulling the cord tied to the animal. 

A man began hitting the dog with a bamboo pole, whacking the dog in the head four times. When he saw it was still moving, he hit the dog again twice.

The Philippine National Police in Pilar confirmed that the incident in the video took place in Barangay Blasco. The policemen did not divulge the names of the persons involved in the video but the man without an upper garment who was seen hitting the dog several times was identified to be the barangay SK chairman.

Police investigation had it that the owner sought help from residents to have the dog killed as it was attacking his other pets such as chickens and other tiny animals.

The presence of the dog has reportedly scared other residents who worried about the safety of their children.

“Ang aso raw, based sa may-ari, kumakain ng mga hayop at delikado na daw para sa mga residente lalo na sa mga bata. Kaya, humingi ito ng tulong para i-dispose [of], but unfortunately, ang manner ng pag-dispose [of], hindi talaga makatarungan,” Major Alfredo de Leon, chief of Pilar Municipal Police Station, said.

The SK chairman, the man who pulled the cord tied to the dog, the person who recorded the incident on video, as well as the dog owner are under investigation following the nature of the dog's death.

An animal welfare group based in Manila  has also coordinated with policemen for the filing of appropriate charges against the four persons. 

“May groups of animal welfare advocates na darating. Sila ang mag-file ng complaint. Tingnan natin kasi kailangan talaga na may private complainant,” de Leon added. 

Further, animal welfare advocates in Capiz will also file charges against the suspects for violation of Republic Act 10631 or the Philippine Animal Welfare Act of 2013. 

“As of now, we cannot release an official statement yet. We are still finalizing all legal actions to be taken. But we will be filing a case against all involved persons,” Atty. Ann Margaret Dy, president of Capiz Animal Welfare Advocates Inc., said.

The news team sought comment from the four, but is yet to receive a reply, as of posting time.