Report: 56 dogs to be sold as meat rescued in Pampanga

Some 56 dogs allegedly being transported to Northern Luzon to be butchered and sold as meat were rescued in Pampanga province this week. The dogs were found inside a Kia van driven by one Roger Maravilla, according to a report on radio dzBB early Tuesday. Authorities intercepted the van in Angeles City in Pampanga, the report said. However, it was not immediately clear if Maravilla was the same Rolando Maravilla who was arrested in a similar operation also in Angeles City in November and December. Last year, Rolando Maravilla had managed to gain temporary liberty by posting bail, the dzBB report said. The initial investigation showed the dogs were taken in Laguna province and were being brought to Baguio City, where they were allegedly to be butchered and sold as meat. The rescued dogs were brought to the shelter of the Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Republic Act 8485, the Philippine Animal Welfare Act of 1998, prohibits the killing of any animal other than cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horses, deer and crocodiles with exemptions for religious, cultural, research, public safety or animal health reasons. - VVP, GMA News