The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Central Office has ordered its field unit in Negros Occidental to conduct a parallel investigation on animal cruelty in the Municipality of Murcia.

According to Lt. Col. Gilbert Mendova III, chief of the CIDG-Negros Occidental Provincial Field Unit, the parallel investigation aims to help determine the identity of the culprit who perpetrated animal cruelty, a violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

“Naging national issue (na ito). Kapag may nakuha tayong lead, certainly we will file the case,” Mendova said.

Prior to this, the Murcia Police have pinpointed a person of interest connected to a chicken farm.

“I understand it is a hacienda, may maraming tao. Those are the possibilities. Marami tayong angle na tinitingnan lalo na ang mga bantay sa place na yun na nandoon during that time,” Mendova added.

Meanwhile, the owner of “Tiktok” allowed the dog to be taken into the care of BACH (Bacolod Animal Chance & Hope) Project PH, an animal rights group.

Aside from Tiktok, the group will take in the owner’s three other dogs to help protect them from further harm while investigation is ongoing.

Tiktok is the dog in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia that sustained five sling-launched darts stuck in its body.

“It doesn’t mean na wala nang access ang kanyang owner. Pwede niyang ma-visit anytime, hindi naman siya kukuhanan ng right,” said animal rights advocate Dr. Aaron Pabalan, Jr.

The other dog named “Bulldog” is also recuperating from the wound it sustained on its left leg due to similar circumstance.

Pabalan has appealed to the public to be more kind to animals.

“Mas maging mabait [sana] tayo sa mga hayop,” Pabalan said.