(Current photos of the two confiscated and rehabilitated pitbulls Buddy and Midnight can be found below (photos labeled "Nov. 6, 2007"). The following text is for those who are not yet familiar with the dogfight case. All text from the PAWS e-group.)



March 31, 2007 - THE RAID. PAWS volunteers along with CIDG-Special Operations Unit personnel raided a dogfight arena in Sitio Kaysakat, Antipolo City. The perpetrators were caught red-handed, and actual videos of the dogfight were obtained from an amateur video of an undercover investigator, as well as from one of the dogfight participants' videocam that was seized by the CIDG. The video footage showed that some of the participants had flown in from other countries with their dogs. Fourteen suspects who were arrested face charges of violation against the Animal Welfare Act or RA 8485 and PD 1602 Illegal Gambling. Three of them were Thai nationals who skipped the country during the Holy Week. PAWS is pushing for warrants of arrest to be issued to the Thai nationals as well as other participants of the dogfight because only Danny Tan and a handful of the accused were given warrants of arrest. The two pitbulls involved in the actual dogfight, named Buddy and Midnight, were confiscated.

See the Philippine Daily Inquirer article here: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=58268

View TV news features of the raid here:
QTV's Sapulso (raid): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Siymt9T2uN8
GMA's 24 Oras (raid): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtzHUkQ60wM
GMA's Unang Balita: http://www.gmanews.tv/video/5335/14-arested-in-illegal-dogfight



April 15, 2007 - ANTIPOLO DOGFIGHT SUSPECTS RELEASED FROM CIDG CUSTODY. Please click on link below to view the INQUIRER article on the release of dog fight suspects who were caught in the March 31, 2007 raid:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=60351

Note from PAWS:
Betting tickets, money from the cashier, video of the raid and video confiscated from the dogfighters which showed the actual dogfight, along with the statements of eight (8) CIDG agents who went undercover and the affidavit of PAWS volunteers who were there at the raid, were among the pieces of evidence presented to 4th Assistant City Prosecutor Corazon C. Sampayo on the April 2 inquest.

PAWS also informed the Asst. Prosecutor that the affidavit of the treating veterinarian was forthcoming. (Arrest happened on Saturday evening, dogs were treated up to the wee hours of the morning of Sunday. Inquest was scheduled 8 am of Monday, April 2.)

'Suspects' were released by Asst. Prosecutor Sampayo due to "lack of evidence" and the case is up for further investigation.

It is interesting to note that one of the Thai suspects was able to leave the country on the day of the Inquest itself when we were informed by the Prosecutor's office at 5pm of the same day that there was still no decision to release any of the suspects.

The investigative hearing is set on April 20, 10 am at Antipolo City Prosecutor's Office , Antipolo City Hall. All affidavits, including the veterinarians' affidavits, will be submitted then.

We are calling on all members of media to help cover this as this case is in danger of being "whitewashed".

For those who may wish to extend financial or legal help or help with media exposure, kindly contact us by emailing philpaws@yahoo.com

Thank you.

"Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself."
—James A. Froude, British historian (1818 – 1894)



April 20, 2007 – PAWS HOLDS AN ANTI-DOGFIGHT PICKET OUTSIDE THE ANTIPOLO CITY HALL:

“Dear animal lovers,

As CIDG agents, PAWS volunteers and veterinarians present their affidavits to the Antipolo City Prosecutor's Office on Friday, April 20, 2007, animal advocates will be carrying signs condemning the illegal and cruel practice of dogfighting between 10 to 10.30 am in front of the Antipolo City Hall.

Volunteers without means of transport who wish to join the peaceful picket can go to PARC at 8am of the same day so that they can avail of carpooling services. For other inquiries, please call 475-1688 or 0922-8815600.

Help speak up for Buddy, Midnight, and other dogs like them who are exploited and abused by heartless people who are into dogfights. Pitbulls actually make great pets. It's unscrupulous dogfighters who give the breed bad training and a bad reputation.

Thank you.

-The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)



April 20, 2007 – PAWS / QC DOGWALKERS CLUB / NPTC (NATIONAL PITBULL TERRIER CLUB) ANTI-DOGFIGHT PICKET MAKES THE NEWS:

GMA's 24 Oras (picket): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT48MhvUTa8
QTV's Balitanghali (picket): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT2gyig0J7o

It was also featured in ABS-CBN (7pm News and BANDILA 12mn News), and RPN9 News.



May 2, 2007 – A MESSAGE FROM PAWS:
“We would like to thank all volunteers who participated in the picket against dogfights in Antipolo City last April 20, especially the National Pitbull Club and the Quezon City Dogwalkers Club.

Those who helped and are helping PAWS in the case against the dogfighters - whose names we choose not to mention for their own safety - veterinarians, lawyers, police, media people: Thank you and God bless all of you!

Buddy and Black-Black (formerly known as Midnight)- the two pitbulls confiscated from the raid - are recovering quite well from their ordeal. We hope to be able to give an updated photo of them soon to assure everyone that there are two "survivors" in this case who will definitely be testimonies to the fact that pitbulls are meant to love, not to fight.. =)”



May 23, 2007 – A LETTER FROM BUDDY AND MIDNIGHT. View their message here:

http://babybranny.multiply.com/journal/item/32/A_Letter_from_Buddy_and_Midnight_PAWS_e-group_May_23_2007



May 31, 2007 – BUDDY AND MIDNIGHT'S VET CHECKUP. Tagged along and took pics of the two confiscated dogs during one of their vet checkups (around a month after the raid), and Animal Scene magazine requested for the photos and an update on the pitbulls' health:

"I was able to see the confiscated pitbulls only twice, the night of the raid and around a month after (during one of their many vet check-ups), and you could really see a HUGE improvement even then. They gained a lot of weight, the multiple wounds of course had already healed, and most striking of all is that these dogs looked very happy & spoiled, so different from the first time I saw them the night of the raid where they just looked so f***ing miserable & hurting. The brown one, Buddy, had been always been friendly since Day One; and despite his many wounds & IV drip, he would wag his tail if you spoke with him. Midnight, the black one, was a bit wary when PAWS first got him - you can't blame him, his body was just SO mutilated - but 2 or 3 weeks after, he was as friendly and sweet as can be. They just needed a lot of TLC. They are SO friendly and sweet now, they're probably so happy that they're finally out of that bad situation. All dogs are babies at heart. Maybe they realized that they're finally where they're supposed to be - to be spoiled and loved by their humans.

Well, most rescued dogs (whether purebred or native/Pinoy mixed breed) are like that, at first they're wary and scared. But when they see that they're going to be loved after all, they become extremely sweet and loyal to their rescuer/adopter. That's why they say, iba magmahal ang rescued dog. They had gone through the worst kinds of cruelty and neglect so they're very grateful to their new guardians because they know the difference between a good life and a bad one. PAWS is so used to rehabilitating rescued dogs with emotional traumas so this was just another batch of dogs to try to rehabilitate. But of course, we always have to respect the past of these dogs, so we're very careful to place them only in the homes of very experienced dog guardians. Well, Buddy and Midnight are now spoiled little boys :).

I really can't fathom how the people who engage in dogfighting can stomach doing that to their own dogs. Must take a very very cold heart and either an ignorant or twisted mind. No matter how excellently they take care of their dogs - giving them premium food, supplements, exercise, toys, regular vaccinations, vet care - it doesn't excuse their cruelty of subjecting their own dogs to dogfighting.

Here's hoping that someday, no pitbull will have to suffer a dogfight again."



June 4, 2007 – AN E-GROUP MEMBER ASKS FOR AN UPDATE ON THE CASE, and here was PAWS' reply:

“Hello Jasmine,

We've been attending a series of investigative hearings wherein we presented the rescued dogs and various affidavits on the evidences submitted. The final "clarificatory" hearing was held last Wednesday, May 30, 2007. If you click on this link:

http://paws.com.ph/news/paws-dog-fight-hearing-affidavit/

you will get to read more or less what PAWS' last reply-affidavit was all about. Antipolo City Asst. Prosecutor Corazon Sampayo would have to submit the Resolution (on whether this case goes to trial or not) within 30 days.

Please continue praying with us that justice will prevail on this case.

Thank you.
-The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)”



November 7, 2007 - FIRST ARRAIGNMENT. The case has finally been approved for trial, and PAWS announces the date of the first arraignment:

“It's no longer "Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco et.al. versus Danny Sy Tan et.al." in the dog fight case. It's now the "People of the Philippines versus Danny Sy Tan et.al." -- a groundbreaking criminal case against Animal Welfare Act violators!

PAWS officers & volunteers face the accused dog fighters in an arraignment scheduled on November 8 (Thursday), 1.30 pm at MCTC Branch 1 of Antipolo City.

Dan Tan et.al had to post bail to get temporary liberty. The Thai nationals who skipped the country during the investigative hearings are now fugitives hiding from the law.

Thank you to all those who prayed for us. We would not have gotten this far without the support of the many brave people who testified with us at the investigative hearings and those who joined in the rally at the Antipolo City Hall.

We request continued prayers and vigilance on this case.

Related update: confiscated pitbulls in the dogfight, Buddy and Black-Black, are healthy and happy in their new home. PAWS Adoption Head, Liza Umayam, will be posting their updated photos here soon.

This Court Case is for you, Buddy and Black-Black! And for all dogs who have suffered to satisfy the merciless hearts of sadistic dogfighters. This is a small step but still a step forward.”



Nov. 10, 2007 - ANNA'S REPORT ON THE FIRST ARRAIGNMENT. "At the arraignment, the lawyer of the dogfighters (Danny Tan, et.al) - whose name is Atty. Julian Turcuator - objected to a private prosecutor (PAWS lawyer, Atty. Roy Kayaban) participating in the trial. He says that based on the Rules of Court-since this is a criminal case, there should only be the Public Prosecutor handling this case.

However, PAWS' Atty Kayaban cited jurisprudence that a private prosecutor can be directly under the public prosecutor and still be allowed to participate.

Atty. Turcuator said that they did not receive DOJ's denial of their Motion for Reconsideration (PAWS received a copy of said document last Oct 24, 2007) so they are asking for re-schduling of the arraignment on Dec 13, 1pm. At this point, Asst. Prosecutor Corazon Sampayo said that her office already sent out those notices and does not understand why the Defense did not get their copy. Sampayo said " to give them the benefit of the doubt" she is agreeing to the suggestion of re-scheduling. The Judge approved the re-sked to Dec13.

The Judge asked Atty Turcuator to put in writing his objection to the representation of private prosecutor Atty Kayaban and gave him until Dec 13 to get feedback on all "other legal remedies of the accused" (i.e. Motion for Rconsideration, etc).

It seems to us that the Defense is trying everything to delay the case - hoping to wear us out. But PAWS will be vigilant here because we want dogfighting stopped - starting with Antipolo City - where dogfights are rampant.

Meantime, the two pitbulls rescued from the March 31st dogfight, Buddy and Black-Black, are enjoying their second chance at life as pet dogs. They have already gained weight and are far from their malnourished, broken, and battered appearances when they were rescued."



THE SECOND ARRAIGNMENT is scheduled for Dec 13, 2007 at the Antipolo City Hall.




Some comments from PAWS e-group members:

April 4, 2007 – a message from Earth Island Institute:
“Kudos to BRAVE-PAWS for stopping the dog fights in Antipolo!
This, of course, is just the beginning. Keep up the great work and please be very careful. Our advocacies can take us to far and dangerous places.
Best,
Trixie”


Apr 14, 2007
From: carol reyes
Re: [whatsuppaws] Antipolo dog fight suspects released
lack of evidence???? Hindi pa ba "Evidence" yung actual video ng raid??? God, magkano kaya binayad ng mga suspect para tablahin ang cry ng mga taong gustong maparusahan ang mga katulad nya? Hay Money is Evil talaga. Hay,"ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES" nga. Shame on them!
we are so so disappointed!


Date: Sun, April 15, 2007 9:13 pm
From: oscar lei (Oscar is a former PAWS shelter manager who now resides in Canada.)
Subject: Re: [whatsuppaws] Antipolo dog fight suspects released
Yes, this is very disheartening. But the evil lies not in money, but in some people whose ethics are on sale more often than SM malls. We encountered the same scenario when PAWS and EII filed charges against Ocean Adventure several years ago; however, through the persisitent efforts of dedicated people like Trixie Concepcion and our own Tata and Anna, the latest news was that an warrant of arrest was issued against the operators of OA.
Leonardo DaVinci said that someday, the crimes committed on animals will be viewed with the same horror as those done on humans. This view, in varying degree, has already manifested in many countries around the world. Sadly, it has yet to completely saturate Philippine society. Therefore, we, those who truly care for our brothers and sisters of the animal kingdom, should keep up the fight.
Oscar


Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007
From: Alya B. Honasan
Subject: Re: [whatsuppaws] Fw: confiscated & rehabbed pits update
Naku, Liza, what lovely news (re rehabbed pits). It does take a very deep kind of evil in man to hurt a helpless creature.


Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007
From: "electroNICA c\",\)"
Subject: Re: [whatsuppaws] Fw: confiscated & rehabbed pits update
I read the link to the dog-tracker forum below (on dogfighting), and I really love this rebuttal by "SHINCHAN."
If the PAWS moderators would allow me to do so, I want to post it here so others will know that people are making a strong stand on the matter.
Nica

KEITH: wether you like it or not, the sport will stay. reality lang. ang tagal na ng blood sport na yan, and until now nandiyan pa rin. nawala nga ang bull, bear, and lion baiting pero na-develope naman sa ibang form. at kahit na ipasara ño yan , may mga magtutuloy pa rin ñan in there backyards. bakit, hindi ba pwede ang private match?............ reality

SHINCHAN: hmmm...tama ka siguro sa sinabe mo na may gagawa at gagawa pa rin ng pag dogfight. Pero ibig sabihin ba eh tanggapin na lang naten kase di naman talaga TOTALLY mawawala? Tama bang tanggapin na lang naten na may mga taong violente sa ating society? tanggapin na ba din naten na may mga criminal, rapist, holdaper, snatcher at mandarambong? puwede ba naten sabihin na private match naman at walang naman involve na pera? so okay lang pala ang mag DRUGS kung "private session" naman. okay lang pala na magtanin ng marijuana kung "for personal consumption" naman.

kaya po tayo binigyan ng isip para gamitin naten. kaya binigyan tayo ng free will para gawin naten ang tama at itama ang mga maling bagay na nakikita nateng mali. kung may masaktan ba sa isa sa mga kapamilya mo ng mga criminal eh okay lang ba sayo na sasabihin ko na ganyan talaga...reality yan eh. di na yan mawawala

labanan po naten ang anumang form ng ANIMAL CRUELTY. specially sa mga dogs dahil mga dog lovers at dog owners po tayo. kung may aso na gumgagala sa lugar ninyo at kilala ninyo ang may ari..ireport sa barangay. kung may alam kayong nagdodogfight ireport ninyo kay TULFO. huwag tayong magkibit balikat dahil sa simpleng argumento na "nangyayari talaga iyan, hindi na mawawala iyan dahil reality iyan."

imagine mo kung ganito tayo mag isip sa paglaban sa Ilegal na droga. kawawa naman tayo.


FASHION DESIGNERS JULIET AND MIMI TAN, owners of a very spoiled and very sweet pitbull, posted this great article against dogfighting:

http://babybranny.multiply.com/journal/item/33/Dogfighting--why_its_bad_for_society_not_just_to_dogs_an_article_about_dogs_on_the_US_underground_circuit


AND A NICE VIDEO somebody posted in the dog-tracker forum:

http://www.qclabrescue.org/pitflash.swf”



Nov 6, 2007 – UPDATE ON BUDDY AND MIDNIGHT. Met up with them for a “pictorial.” They were fat, healthy, happy, giddy, malambing, & sipsip..what more could we say? :) Buddy and Midnight are now beloved pets. (They were adopted by very experienced dog owners with extensive backgrounds in rescuing and rehabilitating dogs, especially dogs with a “violent” or abused past.) See their new pics below (photos labelled "Nov. 6, 2007).


DOGFIGHTING IS ILLEGAL!
From REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8485 (ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998), SECTION 6: It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, or to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat any animal or TO SUBJECT ANY DOG OR HORSE TO DOGFIGHTS OR HORSEFIGHTS, kill or cause or produce to be tortured or deprived of adequate care sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.

SECTION 8: Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction by final judgement, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than (2) years or a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) or both at the discretion of the Court.



This is the first ever case versus dogfighting in the Philippines. My kudos to the brave volunteers (especially Anna) who stand strong in the face of such odds, to do what is right for animals like Buddy and Midnight.



(Sorry the text accompanying this album is soo long, I wanted to archive all the info (and photos) in one link.)