PDEA to COA: 4 drug-sniffing dogs died of natural causes

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is appealing a decision by the Commission on Audit (COA) denying their request for relief from accountability for the deaths of four drug-sniffing dogs worth more than P3 million.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the deaths of Bryan, OJ, Bobby and Bullet due to natural causes was probed and properly documented. 

Cacdac said they have records to prove that the four K-9 dogs, valued at P3,056,000, died due to natural causes as evidenced by the necropsy reports and death certificates issued by duly licensed veterinarians.

Cacdac said this was contrary to the earlier COA findings that there was no showing that the deaths of these four dogs were investigated.

Cacdac filed a motion for partial reconsideration on March 7, saying there was a misappreciation of the documentary exhibits presented by the agency on the case. 

In 2002, 14 K-9 narcotic detector dogs were turned over by the now defunct National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center to the PDEA. 

However, out of the 14, 12 died one after the other because of complications due to old age and senility.

COA’s findings stated that only the deaths of eight of the 12 K-9 dogs from 2002 to 2009 were properly documented. 

“We are hoping that our pursuit for credit of non-liability be allowed because the deaths of these dogs were all documented, that their loss was due to natural causes and not prompted by the negligence on the part of the accountable officer,” Cacdac said.