26/03/2025
Thank you One PH for reporting on this. To all those who shared with us video of the perya in Antique, rest assured that we have already reported the video to the PROPER AUTHORITIES, specifically the Municipality of Patnongon, Antique. As of this post, we have not received any response from them. We demanded specifically that the LGU coordinate with the Patnongon Municipal Police Station to stop this cruel practice.
According to One PH's report, the Patnongon PNP did not receive any report during the time the perya was operating but only after the video went viral. Nonetheless, they promised to follow up with the LGU regarding the incident. We are glad to hear from this report that Patnongon LGU is "[taking] these concerns very seriously" and they are committed to "be more stringent in inspecting stall owners who apply for special permits and we will never allow such activity to operate."
Following this report, rest assured that we will still follow up with Patnongon LGU regarding our report to reinforce our call to stop the use of guinea pigs and other animals in peryas.
May we also take this opportunity to stress that YOU can be PROACTIVE in STOPPING ANIMAL CRUELTY. There are proper authorities to report to when you witness animal cruelty, i.e., the LGU and the PNP. Ang LGU at PNP po ang dapat na sumbungan, hindi po mga animal orgs. As Maj. Ryan Valenzuela, Acting Chief-of-Police of Patnongon PNP, said in this report: "Pag may ganiyan ulit na incident o nakita sila na may sinasabing animal cruelty, pwede sila mag-direct sa station namin personally, or sa Messenger namin, okay naman po, para ma-assist namin mga reklamo nila."
Community Affairs Officer of Patnongon LGU Gladys Estaris also said: "...we enjoin the people of Patnongon and even non-residents who come here during our fiesta to immediately report to the police or the LGU in case these types of activities, especially involving animals, occur in the perya or during their respective barangay fiestas."
Journalist Maymon Reyes ends the report with a reminder: "Tulad ng tao, may karapatan din na dapat pinoprotektahan ang mga hayop. Kaya't sa oras na may makitang pang-aabuso sa mga ito ay ugaliing i-report sa otoridad."
Tandaan: Animal cruelty is a crime. Dapat na ireklamo ito sa tamang otoridad para mapanagot ang mga lumalabag sa batas.
If you see animal cruelty in real life and on social media, see in the comment section below for how you can act to stop animal cruelty.