Trigger Warning: Article contains descriptions of animal cruelty
An animal welfare organization reminded the public that even stray animals are protected under the law after a street cat was beaten to death by a tricycle driver in Quezon City.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Tuesday, March 17 raised awareness about the case of a black-and-white cat named “Mulat,” who was struck with a piece of wood after reportedly irritating the tricycle driver.
The street cat, which was not owned by anyone, was regularly fed by Cherlaine Diego Florendo, a resident along Sto. Domingo Street in Barangay Holy Spirit, outside her home.
One day, Florendo found Mulat lifeless outside her gate. Reviewing CCTV footage, she discovered that a tricycle driver had beat the cat on its head with a 2×2 piece of wood, instantly killing the animal.
The cat had been sitting quietly on the sidewalk before the assault occurred.
Florendo said she had just nursed Mulat, who had been suffering from a cough and cold for a week.
She reported the incident to the police, which led to the arrest of a 53-year-old tricycle driver.
“They kept asking if he was my cat — and technically, Mulat wasn’t really mine, but they said somebody must stand as the owner to be the complainant,” Florendo said, as quoted by PAWS.
She signed the complaint as Mulat’s owner, tearfully expressing her grief over the cat’s death.
“Wala pong ginagawa ‘yung pusa. Wala siyang kalaban-laban,” Florendo said.
Reports said the suspect allegedly became irritated with the cat for supposedly frequenting and urinating on his tricycle.
He admitted to beating the feline but claimed he had no intention of killing it.
“Yung pusa po, sa kada ba-byahe po ako ng umaga ng tricycle. Eh, ito nga, umaga na lang po ako naglilinis ng tricycle bago bumiyahe… Siyempre, nakakahiya rin po sa pasahero na nakakaamoy ng ihi ng pusa sa tricycle,” the suspect told the authorities.
“Balak ko na saktan lang. Siyempre, naging malikot ’yung pusa, napuruhan ko po… Hindi ko po alam na may nag-aalaga doon, sir, kasi akala ko gala lang. Na nagpapakain, pinapakain, nagpapakain lang po ’yung doon sa ano,” he added.
The suspect is already in police custody and has been formally charged with violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
Meanwhile, PAWS reminded the public that even stray animals, including free-roaming cats and dogs, are protected from cruelty under the law.
“There need not be an owner for charges to be filed,” the organization said in a post on Tuesday, March 17.
PAWS said that under the Animal Welfare Act, a cruel act resulting in the death of an animal may be punished with up to two years in prison and a fine of up to P100,000.
“We warn those who think they will not be charged if they hurt strays or unowned animals. The Animal Welfare Act is a special penal law that punishes the evil act of cruelty or torture of animals,” PAWS executive director Anna Cabrera said.
“Walang kinalaman kung merong may-ari sa hayop or kung may nag-aalaga man dito o wala,” she added.
“Animal cruelty must end. We will see it end only if we keep holding these cruel and violent people accountable,” Cabrera said.
PAWS said it is monitoring the case, coordinating with witnesses and is committed to seeking justice for Mulat.
