‘We see them as members of our family’: House bill seeks to regulate animal cremation

MANILA — A House bill filed Monday is seeking to regulate afterlife care services, including cremation, for companion animals.

The measure filed by FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list Rep. Brian Poe filed House Bill 11785 cited recent allegations of improper handling of animal remains in Bulacan.

“Ito yung afterlife care para sa mga alaga po natin para magkaroon po tayo ng standards para sa cremation at burial services, para sa mga pet owners para hindi sila mag-aalala kung totoo ‘yung cremation service at kung nabigyan ng dignidad ang kanilang mga family members,” Poe told reporters after filing the bill.  

“We see them as members of our family,” he said. 

The recent discovery of over 20 animal remains in a barangay in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan raised questions over services offered by a pet crematorium in Cavite.

“Clearly, there has to be a level of transparency between the businesses and the pet owners para alam ng mga owners na ito talaga ‘yung proseso na dinadaanan ng kanilang mga alaga or in our terms, family members,” Poe said. 

Subsequent discoveries in the same municipality have brought the number of remains to more than 80 although it remains unclear if the new discoveries are connected to the crematorium.

The bill seeks to prohibit knowingly misrepresenting communal cremation as individual cremation, as well as intentionally abandoning animal remains in an unauthorized location.

Offenses listed in the proposed law will be punished with a fine ranging from P100,000 to P500,000 or imprisonment of one to four years or both. 

When asked about House plans on possibly investigating the issue on pet remains in Bulacan, Poe said he expected evidence to emerge during a hearing on the bill.

“Dahil na-file natin ‘tong bill na ‘to, regardless of whether or not may resolution, we will have to have a committee hearing. At doon ilalabas lahat ng evidence, ng testimonies para malaman ng mga tao na kailangan talaga natin ‘tong batas na ito para magkaroon tayo ng standards sa mga afterlife care services,” Poe said. 

Poe was joined by his own dog during the filing, as well as two pet owners affected by the incident involving the Cavite pet crematorium, representatives of the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), and actor John Arcilla. 

“This incident in Bulacan has shocked us all. And nakita po natin na kailangan po nating ituloy ang dignity at ipakita na ang ating mga pets, ang mga hayop po na ito ay hindi po sila property… They are part of our family, and hence, we should provide them the dignity and the love until they pass on,“ AKF President Heidi Caguioa said.

Marlon De Guzman lost his dog, Harley, back in September. He is now dealing with fresh grief as he believes Harley was among those involved in the Cavite crematorium. 

“We want justice po. Kung sinuman po ‘yung mga nasa likod po ng mga pangyayari… sana po lumutang na po kayo dahil kailangan po namin ng justice,” De Guzman said. 

Arcilla, meanwhile, said he has had 11 dogs cremated. 

“Nakakatakot ‘yung idea na ito bang urn na nasa akin na iniingatan ko nang ilang taon, kasi since 2004… Paano na kung ‘yung 11 na ‘yun ay parang ano lang, mga semento lang o kung anong durog na mga dumi?” Arcilla asked.

“Hindi ito simpleng, ano mo lang, alaga na parang laruan. Mayroon kang relasyon diyan at kaya mo siya binigyan ng ganoong klaseng burial o ng cremation kasi tsine-cherish mo tsaka pinapahalagahan mo ‘yung relasyon ninyong dalawa,” he added.

The actor called on pet owners to make noise for the issue to be resolved.

“Lahat ho ng mga biktima, lahat ho ng mga nagmamahal sa kanilang mga alaga, lumabas ho kayo. Mag-ingay ho tayo. Kailangan hong makita ng ating mga opisyal kung gaano kadami at kung gaano tayo kalakas na sumisigaw para mapangalagaan ang ating mga alaga nang sa ganoon, magkaroon ho ito ng resolusyon at makapasa,” Arcilla said.