ILOILO City – The investigating team tasked by Mayor Jerry P. Treñas recommended that administrative charges be filed against city veterinarian Dr. Thomas Forteza, Jr. over the euthanasia or mercy killings of stray dogs on July 20, 2022 at Barangay Navais, Mandurriao district here.
Also recommended for filing of charges are the eight members of the team who carried out the euthanasia namely Restituto “Jong” Ebrada, Junivel Sampiano, Joseph Sebreno, Raymund Rovido, Lito Amonador, Elanger Suating, Julio Forteza, and Markwel Clamor.
According to the report of the investigation team headed by Atty. Joseph Edward Areño and Atty. Lloni R. Viterbo to the city mayor, Forteza failed to prove by evidence that the dogs killed were dangerous, suffering from pain or discomfort, or diagnosed with a disease.
The investigation team cited the policy of the state is not to outrightly euthanize stray dogs but to impound them, make them available for adoption, and only under exceptional situations such as when they are found sick or rabid or vicious or some other justifiable purpose that the law sanctions killing them whether instantly or after observation period.
“To emphasize, in the absence of evidence and/or proper declaration by the City Health Office, Dr. Forteza’s claim of a ‘rabies emergency’ does not have any factual basis. Hence, the 11 dogs apprehended should have been impounded for three days. Even if it is true that these 11 dogs were suspected with being afflicted with rabies, they should have been isolated and observed accordingly and upon death must be submitted for laboratory examination,” read part of the probe team report to Treñas.
BACKGROUND
On July 4, 2022, one Remia Canto complained to the barangay officials of Barangay Navais about new-born dogs or puppies of their neighbor allegedly left unattended or uncared for and the presence of stray dogs on their streets which might bite someone or get hit by vehicles passing through.
Subsequently, on July 14, Navais punong barangay Jhanneigh L. Mercado requested Forteza “to send competent team in order to catch stray dogs as it cause danger among my constituents.’”
Acting on the said letter, Forteza dispatched a team on July 15 to assess the situation at Barangay Navais and from there, he was able to allegedly determine the existence of a “rabies emergency.” During the conference with the probe team on July 27, Forteza admitted that on July 20 his team conducted an operation at Barangay Navais and in the process killed or euthanized about 11 stray dogs, including five puppies.
The team narrated that Forteza explained that he had no choice considering that there were rampant stray dogs in the area, there were rabies victims at the adjacent barangay (Old Airport) and consistent positive cases for many years.
He also cited the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 as his legal bases for euthanizing the said dogs. Incidentally, he also mentioned that it was punong barangay Mercado who requested that the stray dogs be euthanized and in fact directed them to a spot in the said barangay whereby they could kill and bury the stray dogs they caught.
However, based on his explanation before the probe team, Mercado claimed that he indeed sent a letter-request to Forteza to send a team to catch the stray dogs in their barangay, but denied that he requested for them to be euthanized.
He said that he has no authority to direct the city veterinarian on how to dispose the said stray dogs.
He also denied having provided the team an area in his barangay within which to euthanize the stray dogs and bury them.
Panay News tried to reach Forteza but he declined to comment for the meantime because he has yet to receive the copy of the findings/recommendation of the probe team./PN
