Owner asked neighbors to kill dog

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz—It was the owner who asked her neighbors to slaughter her dog, suspected to be rabid, to prevent it from biting and harming others in their village.

This was confirmed by barangay kagawad (council member) Mamerto Bawisan of Brgy. Blasco, Pilar, Capiz, to the media on Tuesday, May 21.

Bawisan said that the killing of the suspected rabid dog had permission from the owner, Aida Querubin, who feared it could harm others if it continued to roam around the village.

Bawisan made the clarification after a video showing Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman Carlo Dave Bacay of Blasco village (not Reagan Barrientos* as previously reported on May 20) hitting the dog’s head with a piece of bamboo went viral.

The dog was tied by the neck and was hanging from a basketball ring in the plaza.

Bacay could be held liable for violating Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, which carries a penalty of imprisonment of not less than six months.

An animal rights organization is reportedly investigating the incident.

Daily Guardian has tried to get the side of Bacay but to no avail as of press time.

*Reagan Barrientos is the SK chairman of Barangay Pilar in Las Piñas City in Metro Manila and a pet lover.

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LETTER OF APOLOGY TO SK CHAIRMAN REAGAN BARRIENTOS OF BRGY. PILAR, LAS PIÑAS CITY

I sincerely apologize to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman Reagan Barrientos of Brgy. Pilar, Las Piñas City, for inadvertently naming/identifying him as the SK chairman of Brgy. Blasco, Pilar, Capiz, in my news article “Pilar SK chair faces rap for killing dog” in the May 20, 2024 issue of Daily Guardian.

I picked up the said news item from the Facebook page of a radio station in Roxas City, which did not mention the name of the SK Chairman Carlo Dave Bacay of Brgy. Blasco, Pilar, Capiz.

Considering that the story involves public interest, I researched the name of the SK chairperson of Brgy. Blasco in Pilar, Capiz on the internet and it returned the name of Reagan Barrientos of Brgy. Pilar, Las Piñas City in Metro Manila.

Without further verifying my research, I immediately included Mr. Barrientos’ name in my article to meet the 3 p.m. submission deadline.

I wrote the said article on the afternoon of May 19, 2024, and emailed it to the editorial room of the Daily Guardian on the same day. The news article was published and circulated the following day.

I was later informed by our staff in Iloilo City that someone was calling them, asking for the source of the news item.

A few minutes later, I was informed by those who read my story that the SK chair of Brgy. Blasco, Pilar in Capiz is Carlo Dave Bacay and NOT REAGAN BARRIENTOS of Pilar, Las Piñas City in Metro Manila.

I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO SK CHAIRMAN REAGAN BARRIENTOS FOR MISTAKENLY NAMING HIM AS THE SK CHAIR OF BRGY. BLASCO IN PILAR, CAPIZ AND FOR IMPLICATING HIM TO THE DOG KILLING INCIDENT.

I ALSO SINCERELY REGRET THE INCONVENIENCE AND PAIN CAUSED BY NEWS ARTICLE TO MR BARRIENTOS AND HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I PLEDGE TO BE MORE CAREFUL IN MY FUTURE STORIES.

Sgd.

FELIPE V. CELINO

Contributor