HomeNewsTweeters react on first conviction of animal welfare law

Tweeters react on first conviction of animal welfare law

May 14, 2011

Two years ago, Joseph Carlo Candare , a sophomore year in the UP National Institute of Physics wrote about killing a cat named Teteng in his Multiply blog “My Perfect Symmetry.” In his blog, he wrote:


Click to enlarge journal entry. Image credit

“This isn’t the first time I’ve killed a cat but this time it’s different. It didn’t occur to me back then that the cat had a leash. So I think somebody owns it.”

“So there you go I’m sorry. And I wont be striking another one for maybe about a month. It feels good when your beating it (a cat) up but you suddenly feel something strange when it turns off permanently. That’s how I feel right now. And maybe for the next days. Dang, am I a cat serial killer?” he added.

Instead of sentencing him to six months to two-year jail term as mandated by law, Judge Catherine Manodon ordered Candare to pay a P2,000 fine (46 dollars) for violating the country’s Animal Welfare Act. He will also do volunteer work for Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in the next two to six months. Though the sentence didn’t seem to be justifiable to most in Twitter, I believe a conviction is already good enough. “Candare is the first person to be convicted of animal cruelty in the Philippines. Atty. Roy Kayaban Jr., PAWS spokesman, said the Candare case should serve as a lesson to deter Filipinos from being cruel to animals.”

Candare with other volunteers “will be taking care of 255 cats, 53 dogs, as well as cleaning their cages and doing clerical work.”

He will also receive advice from a psychologist.

Twitter reactions were mostly outraged or disappointed that the sentence was too light. @lilmissfairue says it is “Great day for the kitty world, although I would have preferred if he serves time in jail”. @emilliejoyd suggestion is quite funny: ” sana, dagdag na parusa, ipinabilang sa cat killer ang balahibo ng pusa. ewan ko na lang kung di pa siya magtanda.” Like @PattyCake25 I felt Candare ” needs psych therapy. If he can do that 2 animals what more 2 humans? ”

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Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Noemi Lardizabal-Dado is a Content Strategist with over 16 years experience in blogging, content management, citizen advocacy and media literacy and over 26 years in web development. Otherwise known as @MomBlogger on social media, she believes in making a difference in the lives of her children by advocating social change for social good. She is a co-founder and a member of the editorial board of Blog Watch . She is a resource speaker on media literacy, social media , blogging, digital citizenship, good governance, transparency, parenting, women’s rights and wellness, and cyber safety. Her personal blogs such as aboutmyrecovery.com (parenting) , pinoyfoodblog.com (recipes), techiegadgets.com (gadgets) and benguetarabica.coffee keep her busy outside of Blog Watch. Disclosure: I am an advocate. I am NOT neutral. I will NOT give social media mileage to members of political clans, epal, a previous candidate for the same position and those I believe are a waste of taxpayers' money. I do not support or belong to any political party. I was part of accredited media covering the Office of the Vice President and Leni Robredo as she ran as a presidential aspirant in the 2022 National and local elections. On August 5, 2021, YouTube announced that I was selected as one of 50 Program participants of its Creator Program for Independent Journalists She was a Senior Consultant for ALL media engagements for the PCOO-led Committee on Media Affairs & Strategic Communications (CMASC) under the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council from January 4 -July 5, 2017. Having been an ASEAN advocate since 2011, she has written extensively about the benefits of the ASEAN community and as a region of opportunities on Blog Watch and aboutmyrecovery.com. Organization affiliation includes Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation Updated June 6, 2022