Dog shot dead in Isabela; manhunt on for gunmen
Published May 9, 2026 01:57 pm
A DOG was shot dead after chasing motorists in Ramon, Isabela last April 24. (FB screenshot)
RAMON, Isabela – Public outrage erupted on social media following the fatal shooting of a dog by still unidentified riding-in-tandem gunmen on the Isabela-Alfonso Lista Road in Barangay Ambatali here recently.
Police Major Jay-ar Olya-on, chief of the Ramon police station, said on Saturday that investigators have reviewed closed-circuit television camera footages from several areas traversed by the suspects and conducted follow-up operations. Their identities remain unknown.
The incident on April 24 was captured on surveillance footage and went viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions from netizens.
Investigation showed that the dog was near its owner’s house when the suspects riding a motorcycle passed by. The dog chased the motorcycle which returned with one of the riders shooting the animal with a 9mm caliber pistol. The dog died on the spot.
People condemned the shooting and called for justice for the dog and immediate arrest of the suspects.
Some netizens sided with the suspects as stray dogs chasing motorists can cause accidents.
Backtracking showed that the suspects came from Alfonso Lista, Ifugao, and exited toward the national highway leading to San Mateo, Isabela.
The suspects were also seen passing through the town of Cabatuan toward Cauayan City. However, due to the numerous entrance and exit points in the city, authorities are having difficulty determining their whereabouts, especially since there were no witnesses on the incident.
Police said CCTV footage captured the motorcycle’s license plate but the image was unclear. Authorities are now enhancing the footage to identify the motorcycle owner and the person who shot the dog.
Olya-on said that there is an ordinance in Ramon mandating residents to tie their dogs but the shooting is unacceptable. He said the incident could have been reported to the barangay so the dog owner could face the appropriate penalty if negligence is proven.
He added that aside from violating the Animal Welfare Act, the suspects may also face charges of indiscriminate firing, as well as illegal possession of firearm if the gun used was unregistered.
If it is established that the dog owner violated regulations due to her pet chasing motorists, she may face appropriate sanctions.
Olya-on reminded fur parents to restrain their dogs or prevent them from leaving their house to prevent similar incidents.
Police appealed to residents to cooperate in the investigation and submit any information or CCTV footages that could help identify the suspects.