Frontliners find dogs stuffed in sacks in Tondo, Manila

Several dogs stuffed in sacks were found by frontliners of Barangay 20 Island Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila after they noticed what they saw as suspicious activity near a sidecar parked near an outpost in the area.

According to JM Encinas’ report on “Stand for Truth,” the investigation conducted by the barangay revealed that the dogs were going to be sold for meat to various areas with prices ranging from P300 to P400.

One of the frontliners related the events that led to the rescue of the dogs.

“Isang side car na hinarang ng mga barangay dito sa harapan namin. Sa sidecar na po ‘yon may mga nakasako. Akala lang po namin basura pero nakita ko po gumagalaw,” Lenlen said.

“Mga ilang saglit lang po, hindi ko po kasi kaya na naririnig ‘yung mga aso na ganun na nagiiyakan, ‘yung talagang takot na takot. Feeling ko kasi nahihirapan ‘yung aso na huminga kaya ako nagbutas nu’ng sako,” she added.

When the dogs were taken out of the sacks, they were looked weak. One of the dogs, unfortunately, was already dead.

“Masakit po sa 'kin lalo na nakita ko na ‘yung isa po wala nang buhay. Nakakagalit, nakakapanlumo,” Lenlen said.

Ram Sanchez, another barangay frontliner, said they were told that the dogs will be taken to the fish market.

“Ilalagay daw sa palaisdaan ‘yung aso. Sabi ko, ilalagay sa palaisdaan ‘yung aso bakit patay ‘yung isa, bakit parang pinalo,” he said.

The Stand for Truth team  reached out to the Delpan Police Station to get the identity of the suspects but has not received a response as of posting time.

The incident was a shock to members of the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), a non-government organization that advocates animal welfare.

Atty. Heidi Marquez-Caguiao, AKF program director, said there are laws in place against dog meat trading that have been disseminated through advocacy campaigns as well as prosecution of the traders.

Under Republic Act 8485 or The Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines, any animal cruelty, maltreatment, neglect, and abandonment may be penalized from six months to two years of imprisonment and fined from P30,000 to P100,000. -- Joahna Lei Casilao/BAP, GMA News