Trial set for guard over puppy throwing

MANILA, Philippines —  The security guard who threw a puppy from an overpass in Quezon City in July last year is set to undergo trial.

The Quezon City prosecutor’s office has indicted Jojo Malicdem for violation of Republic Act 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act, as amended by RA 1063, which increased the penalties for acts of cruelty against animals.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society represented by its executive director, Anna Cabrera, has pursued the case against Malicdem.

In a three-page resolution dated Jan. 22 obtained by The STAR yesterday, Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Diovie Macaraig-Calderon said there is sufficient evidence to prove Malicdem maltreated an animal based on the account of a witness.

“There can be no doubt that the object thrown was the puppy as there was no other object seen in the photograph picked up or held by another person,” the prosecutor said.

The resolution was approved by Deputy City Prosecutor Irene Resurreccion-Medrano and Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Jaime Villanueva.

Should he be found guilty, Malicdem could be sentenced to imprisonment of one year and six months to two years and a fine of P100,000.