Animal rights group condemns ‘tethered training’ of horse in Misamis Oriental
- A viral video showing a horse tied to a moving pickup truck in Misamis Oriental has triggered an investigation into potential animal cruelty
- The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is calling for witnesses to help file a case for violation of the Animal Welfare Act
- The owner, Jose Castro, denied any maltreatment, claiming the act was a standard 'controlled training' method used for ranch work
- While the owner insists the horse is healthy, advocates argue that forcing animals to run on asphalt behind vehicles causes extreme distress
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A video of a horse tied to a moving pickup truck in Misamis Oriental has sparked widespread outrage across social media, prompting calls for legal action from animal welfare advocates.
Source: Youtube
The incident, which took place in early February 2026, surfaced through viral footage showing the animal struggling to keep pace with a vehicle traveling along the winding roads of Claveria and Gingoog City.
Witnesses reported seeing the three-year-old horse, named "Kabang," tethered to the rear of a pickup truck.
Observers expressed alarm as the animal appeared to be forced into a high-speed run to avoid being dragged.
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Subsequent clips showed the horse eventually lying on the pavement, visibly exhausted, with some witnesses alleging that the animal's limbs showed signs of injury.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) immediately condemned the act, describing it as a form of "torture" and a clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act (Republic Act 8485).
The organization is currently appealing to the public and eyewitnesses to step forward and provide formal testimonies to assist in filing a criminal complaint against those responsible.
The horse's owner, Jose Castro, has since come forward to deny allegations of abuse. Castro defended his actions, claiming that tethering the horse to a vehicle is a "controlled training method" he has utilized for over a decade to build the animal's stamina for ranch work.
He further clarified that the horse did not die, contrary to some online rumors. Castro explained that the moment the horse was seen lying on the road was a case of "lateral recumbency," a natural resting position for tired equines.
He maintained that the animal is currently in good health and has even challenged critics to have the horse examined by a licensed veterinarian.
Despite the owner’s justification, animal rights groups argue that forcing an animal to run on asphalt, a surface not suited for horse hooves, while tethered to a motorized vehicle constitutes maltreatment.
Under Philippine law, subjecting animals to unnecessary suffering or neglect is punishable by fines and imprisonment.
Local authorities in Misamis Oriental are reportedly looking into the matter to ensure that proper standards of animal care were followed.
The case has reignited a national conversation on the boundaries between traditional animal training and modern welfare standards in the country.
In other news, a male motorcyclist and his female companion were hospitalized on Wednesday following a high-impact collision with a commercial van along Quezon City's main artery. The crash happened at approximately 1:30 AM on the eastbound side of the highway as the passenger van was traveling toward the Fairview district. Emergency teams discovered the male victim in a state of unconsciousness, while his passenger was located roughly 20 meters away due to the force of the momentum. Local traffic investigators are currently evaluating the site to determine liability, and the van operator has been detained for further statement and processing.
Still in other news, a security video from a Manila neighborhood documented a chaotic scene involving roughly 25 young individuals engaged in a pursuit and throwing projectiles at one another. The late-night altercation on Tuesday forced a halt to the flow of vehicles along Lacson Avenue as the group moved through the street. Following a brief chase, police successfully took two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, into custody for their alleged participation in the disturbance. Local leaders have announced plans for increased evening surveillance and are calling on households to be more vigilant in monitoring the activities of their children.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
