TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – A carabao escaped from a slaughterhouse and ran wild, ramming six vehicles along Trece-Tanza Road in Barangay San Agustin at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Trece Martires City Police Station (CPS) chief Lt. Col. Jonathan Asnan told the Manila Bulletin that the female carabao was already at a slaughterhouse when it went ballistic and got away.
The carabao hit a slaughterhouse employee who sustained minor injuries.
As it ran on the road, the carabao hit three cars, a van, a utility vehicle, and a tricycle.
"Wala na po kaming choice, kaysa makapinsala pa ng tao, makasagasa pa nang ibang mga gamit (We did not have any choice, rather than letting it harm people or damage more property), we had no choice but to neutralize the animal," Asnan said.
"Baka po ma-ano kami ng animal welfare, pero wala naman po tayong trained na rodeo para talian at hilahin. Tsaka biglaan po 'yon. Mahirap po eh, malaking kalabaw po ito, para pong bull ito, malaki po ang sungay (We might be criticized by animal welfare advocates, but we do not have trained rodeo experts who can catch and pull the carabao. And we had to act fast. It was difficult, the carabao was big, it was like a bull with big horns)."
The owner of the carabao was able to settle with the owners of the damaged vehicles.