Several dogs, some of whom belonged to lawmakers, together with the other rescued dogs, joined the audience during Senator Grace Poe’s privilege speech on Tuesday, March 19, in support of Senate Bill 2458, also known as the Revised Animal Welfare Act.
It was also the first time that animals made their appearance at the Senate Plenary Hall.
Poe expressed her sentiments of disappointment about the animals’ treatment, in spite of the fact that there is a law existing that intends to protect them from such cruelty.
“Sadly, despite their worth and value to human society and the existence of laws criminalizing cruelty of animal, many of them are still maltreated, neglected and still tortured,” Poe said.
These are in response to Killua’s brutal killing, in which it was found lifeless in a sack in Camarines Sur, which sparked outrage on social media behind the hashtag #JusticeForKillua.
Through this bill, Poe hopes to “improve the capacity of the Department of Agriculture in addressing animal welfare issues through a proper bureau which will be given sufficient budget and permanent personnel.”
Furthermore, this legislation intends to assist the DA in enforcing strict accountability and policy implementation.
Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri wholeheartedly expressed his support for Senator Poe’s filing of the bill to help promote the welfare of animals as the Senate’s priority measure.
“I would like to thank Sen. Grace Poe for this special occasion. This is probably a restored day for the Senate. This is the first time I have seen animals in the Senate,” Zubiri said.
Additionally, Zubiri urged Senate members to allow pets in their new building in BGC, Taguig. “It’s the first time that I’ve seen animals inside the Senate, in the Session Hall. So, this is a historic day. I think, my dear colleagues, we are going to transfer our home to BGC very soon, I think we should make it a pet-friendly building. Let’s make it a pet-friendly building where we can take our pets,” he added.