PAWS slams diocese apology for ignoring bird’s suffering

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) criticized the Diocese of Kalookan’s recent apology, saying it overlooked the main issue of how the animals were treated

In a statement on Thursday, April 9, PAWS said that the Diocese’s apology focused almost entirely on the environmental or procedural aspect of the balloon release, while ignoring the physical suffering of the bird.

“They seem to miss the point that the act of fastening the dove's wings to a tube using cable ties causing the animal extreme suffering while using it as a prop for their presentation is a CRIME,” PAWS’s statement read.

“PAWS urges the Church to not violate the Animal Welfare Act or Republic Act 8485, as amended by RA 10631,” it added.

Lawyer Anna Cabrera, PAWS Executive Director, said that if a similar thing happened again, the organization would press charges.

"If we cannot be guided by the basic precept that animals are capable of suffering, and therefore we have a moral duty to prevent suffering whenever we can, we can perhaps be convinced that there is a law that can make violators accountable," Cabrera said.

"The next time this happens, we will file a case," she added.

On April 8, the Diocese of Kalookan apologized for the incident that occurred on Easter Sunday at the Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Malabon City, where they tied the bird in a balloon for the unveiling of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

According to the diocese, it has been a practice that they said is a safer alternative than using a child.