CAMP GEN. MIGUEL MALVAR, Batangas City — Three men were arrested by authorities after they were caught in the act of transporting around 54 pieces of dog carcasses in Barangay Mataas na Bayan in Lemery town, provincial police public information office chief, Senior Insp. Kerwin Amor Cabrales, said Sunday.
In his report to Batangas police provincial director Senior Supt. Edwin Quilates, Lemery municipal police chief, Chief Insp. Alfie Maluenda Salang, identified the three suspects as Kyth Wadingan Baybay, Perry Jim Aswit Baybay and Diwan Ay-ayac Baybay.
Salang said the three suspects were intercepted around 5:30 a.m. Sunday by the local police patrol team. led by deputy police chief Senior Inspector Garry A. Abregunda, along with the team from the International Wildlife Coalition Trust (IWCT) represented by Lynson dela Cruz, a researcher and investigator.
He said the local law enforcers were informed earlier about the illegal transport of the dog’s meat, prompting them to conduct the operation against the suspects.
Salang added that the police team spotted the vehicle and immediately stopped and checked on the van’s cargo, which turned out to be several dog meat parts piled up inside the van.
Both the IWCT and the local authorities here are preparing charges against the three suspects for violation of Republic Act (RA) 8485 or the “Animal Welfare Act of 1998” as amended.
Police continue their investigation of the suspects to determine where the dog meat came from and their possible trading destinations.(Jojo C. Magsombol/PNA)
