Man who stole 2 purebred cats sued

MANILA, Philippines — Police have filed charges against the man who stole two purebred cats from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) shelter in Quezon City.

A complaint for robbery in relation to Republic Act 8485 as amended by RA 10631 or the Animal Welfare Act was filed against Jogit Manalo, of Barangay Escopa 3, before the city prosecutor’s office on Monday.

Manalo’s accomplice, known only as Nikki, was also charged.

Manalo was caught on closed-circuit television footage stealing a British Shorthair and a Scottish Fold from the PAWS shelter in Barangay Loyola Heights on Oct. 11.

Two witnesses have identified Manalo as the culprit, who sold the cats together with Nikki. The suspects remain at large.

PAWS executive director Ana Cabrera said the person who returned the Scottish Fold on Oct. 15 was one of the buyers.

“The buyer turned over the cat to the barangay when he learned it was stolen,” Cabrera said.

The microchip on the cat is the same on PAWS’ records.

Cabrera earlier said a purebred cat is worth P100,000.

“The other cat was sold to a different buyer,” she said.

The cats were among the 26 animals rescued by PAWS from a warehouse recently.