Suspected killer of Killua indicted for animal cruelty

The man suspected of killing Killua, the three-year-old golden retriever in Bato, Camarines Sur whose death riled netizens and animal rights advocates in March, was indicted for alleged animal cruelty, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said Friday. 

In a three-page resolution shared by PAWS, provincial prosecutors of Camarines Sur found probable cause to charge the suspect for allegedly violating Republic Act No. 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. 

“The manner by which Killua was killed sustains a finding of probable cause to charge respondent for violation of the above-cited law,” the resolution penned by Prosecutor Wilhenry Villar reads. 

“Being a barangay tanod, respondent should have looked for the owner of the dog and report the incident to the barangay. The dog may have caused trouble or inconvenience in the neighborhood and tested positive for rabies, but still there are proper and lawful ways to manage the situation. Subjecting Killua to such cruelty and maltreatment will never be justified,” it added. 

Prosecutors, however, said there is insufficient evidence to charge the suspect with violation of the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 over his alleged involvement in dog meat trading. 

“The fact that respondent owns a store selling viands and the allegation that the dog was found at the place of a certain Ibanez is not sufficient proof that respondent is engaged in the business of dog meat trading,” they added.

In March, dog owner Vina Rachelle Arazas took to social media to call for justice over Killua’s death. 

Based on CCTV footage, Killua was seen jumping from their house's roof after scaling it past 5 a.m. on Sunday. The dog then allegedly attacked a resident, prompting the man to chase the dog and beat it to death. The man also claimed Killua bit his leg. 

Killua tested positive for rabies virus, according to PAWS.—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News