MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Pangasinan police chief Police Col. Rollyfer J. Capoquian has ordered Police Lt. Col. Francisco Sawadan Jr., chief of police here, to file appropriate charges against a 71-year-old man who dragged a cat on a road in this town while driving a tricycle on Jan. 4, an act caught by a motorist on video, uploaded, and went viral on social media.
Ciriaco Arellano Mendoza Jr. was seen by netizen Ken Ordonio driving a tricycle with license plate 206WLY with a cat tied with a rope to the back of the sidecar in Barangay Gomez and struggling to keep up.
Police said the uploader who is from a nearby town called out Mendoza.
"Boss iyong pusa nahihirapan, pinapiharapan mo pusa (The cat is suffering please stop)," Ordonio said.
Mendoza refused to stop but Ordonio continued to appeal. "Boss ano ginagawa mo sa pusa? (What are you doing to the cat?)” said Ordonio which prompted Mendoza to stop and free the suffering feline.
Barangay officials provided first aid and transferred the cat to a veterinary clinic for treatment.
Investigation said the septuagenarian got irked and made the decision to move the feline after it scratched his grandchild and stole food in the.
The suspect faces charges for violating Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
Police said Ordonio is expected to give his statement to the police about the incident.