THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it will expand its investigation into a pet crematorium accused of illegal dumping of animal carcasses, following the discovery of additional suspected disposal sites in Bulacan.
The Environmental Crimes Division of the NBI is leading the investigation into Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium in Bacoor City, Cavite, amid mounting complaints from pet owners for alleged improper disposal of animal carcasses intended for cremation.
This comes after the remains of 25 dogs and cats were recovered from a vacant lot in Barangay Minuyan Proper, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.
Animal welfare volunteers from Luna and Furry Siblings subsequently reported finding additional suspected dumping sites in Barangay Minuyan 4 and Minuyan 5, also in San Jose del Monte.
The group estimated that around 14 animal remains were found in Minuyan 4 and 30 to 40 in Minuyan 5. The figures have yet to be verified by authorities.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said forensic examinations would be conducted to establish whether the recovered remains came from the Cavite crematorium.
He added that the business permit, cremation equipment, closed-circuit television footage, and records documenting the handling and disposal of animal remains of Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium would be reviewed.
The NBI is looking into possible estafa charges under Article 315(2)(a) of the Revised Penal Code if evidence is found that the crematorium collected payments for services that were never performed.
Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla ordered the establishment closed on Oct. 31.
Matibag urged affected pet owners to submit cremation receipts, certificates, transaction records, and communications with the establishment to help investigators build their case.
Representatives of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) went to the NBI headquarters on Tuesday in response to the call.
“AKF is seeking answers and accountability. We are calling on the NBI to conduct a deeper investigation, including the verification of ashes returned to grieving pet owners,” AKF said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“We hope this encourages more affected families to come forward and file complaints,” it added.
The Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) on Monday condemned the act.
“The incident raises deeply troubling questions about the handling, transport, and proper disposition of animal remains, particularly in light of reports involving a pet afterlife service provider based in Bacoor, Cavite. The circumstances surrounding the incident warrant a thorough investigation and appropriate accountability from all parties found responsible,” PVMA said in a statement.
“Pet owners entrust afterlife service providers with something deeply personal: the final care of their beloved companions. This trust carries a profound responsibility. Every animal deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, even in death. Any act of negligence, abandonment, misrepresentation, or failure to fulfill this responsibility is unacceptable,” it added.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) urged pet owners who may have been victimized to file complaints and submit evidence to authorities.
“Any form of deception that exploits the trust of grieving pet owners is deeply concerning and must be addressed with the full force of the law. We will not tolerate acts that victimize the public and undermine the trust that should exist between service providers and the communities they serve,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.
“Fraud is not measured solely by the amount of money taken, but also by the damage inflicted on the people whose trust has been betrayed. The PNP will support efforts to establish accountability and ensure that all evidence of possible criminal wrongdoing is properly investigated,” he said.
Sen. Pia Cayetano said she would file a resolution seeking a Senate investigation into the incident.
“Pets are beloved members of many families. As a pet owner, I understand the grief of losing a pet. Many of us observe rituals to give our beloved animals a proper farewell,” Cayetano said in a statement.
“Pet owners have the right to demand that their contracts be honored and seek damages for the harm and distress they have suffered,” she said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, demanded accountability for deceived pet owners, saying it was unacceptable to profit from the grief of families who paid for their animals to receive a proper and dignified final resting place.
“It is unacceptable to take advantage of the grief of pet owners who paid to ensure that their beloved animals would have a proper and dignified final resting place,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
He said the alleged dumping of animal carcasses could be a violation of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, as well as local sanitation ordinances.
The controversy has intensified calls for tighter government oversight of pet crematoriums and other animal aftercare businesses, with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian seeking a nationwide inspection and audit of service providers.
Gatchalian said the inspections should determine whether these establishments were properly licensed, complied with environmental requirements, and observed clear standards of integrity.
“The distressing discovery of 29 deceased pets abandoned in sacks in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, is a blatant violation of environmental and sanitation laws,” Gatchalian added.
