Bacoor police receive 300 complaints over alleged mishandling of pet remains

MANILA — The Bacoor City Police Station has received around 300 complaints from pet owners over the alleged mishandling and improper disposal of their pets’ remains, as investigators continue to look into the discovery of animal remains in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Bacoor City Police Station chief Police Lt.Col. Alexia Desamito said the number of complainants increased from around 250 the previous day.

Meanwhile, eight pet owners have so far identified recovered remains in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, as belonging to their pets.

However, police have yet to establish whether a newly discovered animal body in the same city is connected to the earlier incident involving an alleged crematorium service provider.

Desamito said Bacoor police have been assisting complainants since the initial discovery by assigning investigators to accompany pet owners to the site where the remains were found.

She said police have also been encouraging affected pet owners to formally file complaints at the station so investigators can gather their statements and supporting evidence.

Police have since taken affidavits from complainants and guided them on the evidence they need to submit. The station is also coordinating with its legal officer.

Desamito said the forensic group of the Cavite Police Provincial Office has started accepting ashes from pet owners for examination.

“Para i-test kung talagang legit na galing sa alaga nila yung naging abo na ‘yun,” she said.

(To test if the ashes really are of their pets.)

Four individuals also went to the police station to report their claims. One claimed a cat, while two others were identified as members of the group of 29 pet owners previously mentioned in the investigation.

Desamito said she had met the alleged owners of the crematorium once but has yet to coordinate with them again.

She said her only question during the meeting was how many employees they had, to which they reportedly answered around five.

Police are also looking into the possibility that there may be other locations where animal remains were dumped.

“Papa-imbestigahan ko kung may iba pa silang dump site na pinagtatapunan,” Desamito said.

(We will investigate whether they have other dump sites.)