Dog abuse case: ‘Bingo’ safe; handler faces raps
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (Paws) said on Thursday that it will file a case against the K9 handler who was caught on video mistreating a service dog named Bingo at the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) compound in Ortigas, Pasig City.
“Paws is already in coordination with Meralco officials and the individual who posted the video. Both have assured us of their willingness to stand with Paws to pursue legal action. The video taker will be the primary witness in the case to be filed against Bingo’s cruel handler,” the animal rights group said in a Facebook post.
In a statement, Paws said the handler was seen “forcefully and violently” mistreating Bingo when he allegedly engaged in an “aggressive attempt to retrieve a ball from the dog’s mouth.”
“Paws is deeply outraged and condemns these repeated acts of violence and neglect toward K9s. There is no job, task or excuse that ever justifies cruelty or violence in any workplace, and certainly not in the treatment of animals,” it said.
Search and Secure Canine Training and Services International Inc. (SAS K9), the security agency employing the K9 handler, said on Wednesday that he has acknowledged his actions and expressed willingness to undergo necessary corrective measures.
Not just working animals
“The handler has been placed under preventive suspension and has been directed to return to our K9 training facility in Cavite for retraining and reassessment,” it said in a statement.
It added that it will conduct an internal review and reinforce its handler training protocols “to ensure this does not happen again.”
“Our K9s are not merely working animals; they are our partners. We remain firm in our commitment to their welfare. Positive reinforcement, including the use of toys such as balls as rewards, is central to our training approach,” it said.
Nicole Espiritu, the uploader of the viral video, told the Inquirer that the incident occurred at 3:26 p.m. on Wednesday.
Espiritu said she took a video as evidence and wanted to report it to Meralco’s administration.
However, she was only able to speak with the office guards.
‘Deeply disturbed’
“I asked several times where I could report it, but no one answered. The video went viral on Facebook, so maybe it got [Meralco administration’s] attention,” Espiritu said.
In a statement on Thursday, Meralco vice president and corporate communications head Joe R. Zaldarriaga said they were “deeply disturbed” by what happened and were “treating this matter with utmost seriousness.”
“Our values demand that we act with integrity and malasakit (compassion), a value that guides how we treat not just people, but every living being under our care. What happened is not only unacceptable, it stands in direct contradiction to everything we believe in,” he said.
According to him, they were coordinating with SAS K9 and other relevant authorities to ensure that a “full and immediate investigation” was conducted.
Zaldarriaga added that Bingo was safe and “receiving the proper attention and care he deserves.”
Meralco’s assurance
“Bingo’s well-being remains our top concern. We are ensuring he is cared for in a safe, nurturing environment and will continue to monitor his condition closely,” he said.
He added that they were reviewing all related practices to ensure that animals under their operations are treated with respect, dignity and kindness.
“Animal cruelty has no place in our organization. We are committed to doing what is right—not only by taking swift action in response to this incident, but by reinforcing our standards to prevent anything like this from ever happening again,” Zaldarriaga said.
Paws noted that the incident happened barely a month after the case of police dog Kobe, who went viral for being severely malnourished while on active duty.
“We urge the public to duly report acts of cruelty and continue to stand with us in seeking justice for victimized animals. Prosecution (where there has been a crime committed toward an animal) and education (to help prevent future crimes) combined will end animal cruelty,” it said.
