2 tagged in Bacoor pet crematorium case surrender to NBI; charges to be filed - GMA Network

The husband and wife allegedly responsible for the dumped pet remains in Bulacan have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), according to Director Melvin Matibag on Thursday.

Matibag thanked the NBI Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) for cracking the case, calling it a “major breakthrough”.

“Nakuha kaagad natin yung person responsible dun sa pagbabaon nung mga pets na supposed to be na-cremate. Dalawa yung individual natin na subject ngayon, which is under our custody, voluntarily na pumunta dito sa atin at nakuhanan natin yung story kung paano ito nangyari and we will be filing the necessary charges dito sa mga individuals na ito,” Matibag said in a press conference.

(We got the person responsible for burying these pets that were supposed to be cremated. Two of the individuals that are under our custody voluntarily went here and we got the story on how this happened and we will be filing the necessary charges against these individuals.)

According to Matibag, Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium in Bacoor was sending the remains to another pet crematorium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

After the Bulacan pet crematorium was done with the cremation, they were supposed to return the ashes to the Cavite crematorium.

“Ang findings na natin dito, Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium, wala siyang facility, wala siyang equipment to do the cremation. So pinadala niya doon. Malaki yung volume ng dumarating,” Matibag said.

(Our findings here: Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium, they do not have the facility; they do not have the equipment to do the cremation. So they were brought there. There was a large volume being brought there.)

“So ang ginawa nila, linibing nila,” he added, citing the couple’s testimony. (So what they did, they buried them.)

Matibag said that the lack of proper cremation facilities points to evidence of estafa, as well as violations of the Consumer Protection Act. The NBI is also determining if there were violations in health and sanitation standards over the transferring of the dead pets from Bacoor to San Jose Del Monte.

The NBI has pinpointed three dumpsites, Matibag said.

When no more ashes were being returned to the Bacoor crematorium, the crematorium itself came up with ashes. Matibag said that no cremation took place at all.

Matibag said that the NBI will file six cases initially, since there were six complainants who came forward to the agency. However, Matibag said that there was already enough evidence for them to also file a case before the prosecutor’s office.

A large portion of the case has already been solved, Matibag said. He urged any other possible complainants to come forward, since there was already plenty of evidence.

However, Matibag said that they were also determining the liability of other parties, especially since the Bacoor pet crematorium was able to operate for so long even if they did not have the proper facilities.

The NBI is also attempting to get an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order for other people who may be involved in the case, so that they will not escape, according to Matibag. —LDF, GMA News