A woman from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental is pursuing legal action against a neighbor who admitted to incinerating her pet dog, according to a report by GMA Regional TV.
JB Castillo last saw her mixed-breed dog, Joker, on April 18, 2026. The animal was accustomed to roaming the neighborhood and returning home, but when Joker failed to come back, Castillo went looking — and found him atop a pile of embers on a neighbor’s property.
The neighbor, identified only by the alias Romeo, confessed to having set the animal on fire, leaving Castillo stunned.
“Kulang na isa ang aking alaga. Hinanap pa namin siya. Sabi ko (sa kapitbahay), nakita mo ba ang aso? Sabi niya, baka iyon ang sinunog ko. Nasa apoy talaga ang aso, kinuha lang niya kasi raw wala siyang enough time, may pupuntahan pa siya,” Castillo said.
Romeo claimed the dog was already dead and foul-smelling before he burned it — a version of events Castillo disputes. She is questioning both the cause of death and her neighbor’s decision not to notify anyone before disposing of the animal.
“According to his claim, ang aso, masama na ang amoy niya, bloated na. It will still remain questionable ang cause of death. Bakit hindi mo ipinaalam sa may-ari o sa caretaker para mabigyan ng proper burial?” Castillo said.
To determine how Joker died, the family intends to have the dog’s remains subjected to an autopsy.
The Community Animal Rescue Efforts, Inc. weighed in on the incident, with information officer Lowella Sanicas saying Romeo’s act falls under animal cruelty as defined by the Animal Welfare Act — regardless of whether the dog was already dead at the time.
“Regardless, sinunog niya. Act of cruelty pa rin iyon. Sana inilibing, hinanap ang owner. Number one, hindi acceptable na kung may patay na dogs or cats, susunugin mo,” Sanicas said.
