BAGUIO, Philippines – Axle, a gray-and-white American bully, drifts through a grainy video at the back of a gathering in Sadanga, Mountain Province, on December 4, sniffing another dog and weaving among small children.

And then a man took out a huge wooden club from his back and started clobbering the animal.

The dog was stunned, but the beating continued despite screams from mostly elderly women. The beating continued off-camera.

Axle died from his injuries.

The video was uploaded on YouTube and reached thousands of views in a few hours when it was shared on TikTok and YouTube.

On Friday, December 5, the Facebook account of the Sadanga LGU asked one of the online media outlets to take down its story “while the matter is being properly addressed by the families involved.”

“The circulating information is causing unnecessary distress,” the account, supposedly from Sadanga town government.

The report said that the killing was settled amicably by the parties involved.

The viral video was subsequently taken down.

But the report has been shared and discussed on social media. The story published on one Facebook account for American bully breeds elicited over 50,000 reactions. The thread #JusticeforAxle also became viral.

On Tuesday, December 9, Sadanga town government issued an official statement on the killing.

“We confirm that a filing of (a) case is ongoing against the perpetrator,” read part of the statement.

The man, it added, was a driver of the local government, denying that the perpetrator was a councilor, particularly Daniel “Dongpop” Dawadeo, who was identified in several posts.

The group Animal Kingdom issued a statement on the killing, calling on the town government, police, and barangay leaders to ensure that the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 is fully upheld.

“With this in mind, we urge authorities to ensure any action involving animal harm or cruelty is evaluated in accordance with the law’s standards and penalties. Any amicable settlement between parties must not invalidate or circumvent the legal protections given to animals,” the group said, adding that dogs are not mere property.

“Sadanga is known for its strong traditions, unity and sense of dignity. Upholding animal welfare does not diminish these cultural values but rather strengthen them. Protecting the voiceless is a reflection of moral leadership and cultural integrity,” AK added. “As we await further developments, let this case stand as a clear affirmation: animal lives matter, and the public’s call for justice is a valid and powerful reminder that this incident must set a positive example for Sadanga, for Mountain Province, and for the entire Filipino community.”

Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) also came out with its own statement on Wednesday, citing that the settlement should not be the end of justice for Axle.

“Many believe that justice is now impossible because of discussions circulating online that Axle’s owner has allegedly reached a settlement with the offender, but this is not true and justice is still possible despite,” PAWS said.

“Even if such a settlement is true, it applies only to the owner’s civil claim, but this does NOT erase the offender’s criminal liability. Under the Animal Welfare Act and other special penal laws, criminal responsibility remains and the law can still be fully enforced,” it added.

The group called for witnesses or those with direct knowledge of the case to still pursue legal action.

“However, the criminal case can only proceed with the help of witnesses or those with personal knowledge of the crime. Anyone who personally witnessed the incident or has direct knowledge can still pursue legal action by filing a case,” PAWS said. – Rappler.com