ILOILO CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) verified that there is no trading of dog meat or slaughtering of dogs in Pavia town, Iloilo province.
“We found out that the owner of the pottery store was only joking around,” said Police Major Dadje Delima, chief of the Pavia Municipal Police Station.
Entrepreneur Marie Wharton passed by a pottery shop owned by Rodolfo Jomeras in Barangay Pandac on Saturday, September 9.
She bought several clay cooking pots and noticed that Joemras had a dog. During a conversation, Jomeras allegedly told Wharton he was slaughtering and cooking dog meat for upcoming fiestas and asked Wharton if she was willing to buy.
Wharton, who used to be president of the Animal Welfare Association (AWA)-Iloilo, reacted that slaughtering and trading dog meat are illegal under the Animal Welfare Act.
She posted this on Facebook which quickly caught attention.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Wharton said she wanted authorities to check the establishment.
“This is a lesson learned to everyone that no amount of joke is justifiable regarding animals. We, in the animal sector, do not take these things lightly,” said Wharton.
While the incident was a joke, Wharton vowed to remain vigilant. “We will continue to be vigilant. Let us remind ourselves of the Animal Welfare Act. This is the law and I will continue to fight for animal rights,” Wharton added.