14-07-2025
Illegal dog fighting busted, dogs rescued in La Paz
An illegal dog fighting operation, which may be viewed live and online, was busted and several fighting dogs were rescued by authorities in La Paz, Tarlac.
According to Jonathan Andal's report in '24 Oras' on Monday, authorities raided the arena by virtue of a search warrant following a tip provided by an informant. The police also arrested the person running the dog fight a certain alias "Akira."
With the joint forces from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Organized Crime Unit, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and the Animal Welfare Investigation Project (AWIP), three dogs were rescued in the raid.
Seven puppies were initially rescued after authorities bought them from the suspect to gian his trust. The puppies that are about eight-weeks old, were being trained for fighting, the report said.
'Pinapakagat nila 'yung tuta sa malalaking aso para maging mas ano 'to, mas wild, mas maging agresibo 'yung tuta habang lumalaki…nai-immune na siya sa mga kagat-kagat. Tapos pinapalo-palo nila,' said PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz.
(They let bigger dogs bite the puppies as part of their training to make them become wild and aggressive as they grow up…They also beat the puppies.)
'Generally, what happens is that they will use, for example, weighted collars, they will use poles with something on the end of it to train these dogs and condition these dogs. Generally, conditioning is for a long period of time. In this case, however, the individual just wanted to get to a fight. This is very, very unacceptable,' said Jacob Lloyd of AWIP.
Authorities also seized items used to train the dogs such as improvised wooden bite sticks, weighted collars, training pole, fight cage, healing oil, and other medicines for dogs.
The PAOCC is now investigating where the illegal dog fight is being streamed online as there are reportedly foreign bettors.
'Hindi lang peso ang pustahan diyan. Talagang may pumupusta ng mga dollars diyan o depende kung saang bansa,' said Cruz.
(The bets are not only in peso. There were people betting in dollars or other currencies depending on what country they are from.)
The rescued dogs are now under the care of the AWIP.
The suspect is detained at the PNP Criminal Investigation Detection Group for violation of the Animal Welfare Act. GMA Integrated News is trying to reach him out for comment.
Meanwhile, PAOCC will also run after other individuals behind the dog fight. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News
