PEÑARANDA, Nueva Ecija — An individual was arrested after being caught red-handed selling five live dogs inside sacks on Saturday here.
The Penaranda Municipal police station narrated that its operatives nabbed the suspect identified as Ruel Bote Balignasay while on board his motorcycle with trailer at a checkpoint at Barangay Sinasajan.
Police said that the suspect — a resident of neighboring town General Tinio — was caught with five dogs inside the kolong-kolong and was believed to be selling the dogs for their meat.
The suspect is now facing charges for violation of RA 10631 or the Animal Welfare Act of 2017.
"We have been conducting stringent enforcement of the law to protect dogs and other animals which are considered pets and not livestock. We keep on reminding the public that they can be penalized once abuses are committed to their pets or to any other animals," Police Regional Office 3 regional director Brigadier General Cesar Pasiwen said.
