MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines Physics student Joseph Carlo Candare, who was recently convicted of animal cruelty, was only trying to have fun shocking his blog readers when he “accidentally” killed a cat one school day in 2009.

This was the statement of Joseph’s father Rod Candare, emailed to Students and Campuses Bulletin.

It would be remembered that Joseph figured in a controversy when his blog entry titled "I killed Schrodinger's Cat-Isang Araw na Puno ng Epick Phail” recounted how he tortured “Teng-Teng”, an orange and white tabby cat, a pet of students and faculty at the UP National Institute of Physics (NIP).

“Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit pero anumang pagpipigil sa sarili ay hindi sapat upang mapangibabawan ang panggigil ko sa mga pusa. I pulled it on its tail and threw it. Then like some pro wrestler, I jumped on it and my feet landed on its torso. Slam! Felt good! But the cat didn’t die, well not yet. It ran for its life and just as I was about to catch up on it somebody yelled: Pwede bang pabayaan mo 'yung pusa?!”…The cat got away. I didn’t see it die pero sabi ni Myles it coughed up blood or at least something like that daw. Didn’t realize I gave it a fatal hit…,” read Joseph’s blog. He was then a sophomore student.

What Joseph didn’t expect was that his blog would be read by many people, blown up, and draw widespread condemnation from animal lovers here and abroad. He also never expected that a criminal case would eventually be filed against him.

Two weeks ago on May 12, after a long and grueling process, the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (QCMTC) convicted the 20-year-old Joseph for pleading guilty of killing Teng-Teng and violating the Animal Welfare Act. He was ordered to pay a fine of P2,000.

Under the law, the punishment for convicted animal offenders is imprisonment of six months to two years or a fine of P1,000 up to P5,000, or both fine and imprisonment.

Anna Cabrera, executive director of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), says Joseph’s party appealed for him not to be given a prison term but only to pay a fine. In return, Joseph offered to do two months to a year of volunteer work at PAWS to show his sincere apology and effort to reform.

Groundbreaking development

Joseph’s case is the first conviction for a single act of animal cruelty and for a cat cruelty case.

Anna hails the first Animal Welfare Act violation conviction as a groundbreaking development, despite what she calls as a light penalty imposed on Joseph. “This will push forward our campaign against animal cruelty. This conviction will help PAWS and other animal welfare groups in prosecuting animal offenders everywhere,” points out Anna.

Rochelle Regodon, a campaigner for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), says the conviction sends a very strong message to potential animal abusers that violent acts against animals will no longer be tolerated.

“This case is also a signal to the public that the legal system has started to pay attention to animal cruelty cases. We expect members of the public to start reporting animal cruelty cases to barangay officials and to the local police as a result of this case,” she adds.

Joseph’s case was initially difficult to pursue even as they received several emails from various concerned citizens about it, Anna recalls.

“For us to be able to file a case against him, we have to secure an affidavit from a person who witnessed what Joseph did. Initially, we had a hard time finding one. There were many students who witnessed it but they didn’t want to file an affidavit. Lahat ayaw ng gulo. The professors were also uncooperative. Kawawa naman daw, pabayaan na lang daw 'yung estudyante. Buti na lang our volunteers at PAWS are also students from UP so they helped us convince a person to file an affidavit,” Anna says.

The case went on at the QCMTC and a warrant of arrest was even issued. Joseph’s father admitted that he personally went to see Anna and asked her to withdraw the case and instead enter into an amicable settlement with him.
But PAWS was serious in its campaign and decided to push through with it.

“His father told me that Joseph also suffered as a result of all these things. He received death threats and harassment, even moved dormitories, was failing in his subjects, and went into depression. We understand that but we still feel that he should face up to the consequences,” explains Anna.

A father speaks up

Contrary to what other people think, the elder Candare says his son doesn’t dislike cats, or animals for that matter. He even has a pet dog.

“The truth is, he never had dislikes to animals. He was just so crazy and aggressive in making fun on the internet. When they (Joseph and his twin brother) were toddlers, we used to call our dogs to run after stray cats that took their leftovers and thought that cats are bad. I don’t think when they grew they instilled that thought and possessed extreme dislike. When I read his letter of apology to the UP Chancellor, one quote stated that he wants to horrify his viewers and did it for fun. About killing other cats, he said it was just a flowery statement to make his blog more horrific,” explains Rod.

Joseph is a typical happy kid who loves to play, does mischief and competes with his brother. Joseph is also witty and likes to joke around. Rod says his son, an incoming fifth year student at NIP, is smart and very competitive like his twin. Both have won in several math and science regional and national contests in their elementary and high school days. They have also competed in various athletic tilts, particularly for table tennis.

Apart from being good in writing, Joseph, an editor-in-chief of his high school organ, is likewise a musician who composes and makes musical arrangements. “When I learned of what happened, I was afraid UP might expel him. So I told him to secure honorable dismissal before UP will take further action. He was crying and begging for sorry when we talked on the phone. "

Rod reveals that the case was very depressing especially for Joseph whose academics deteriorated. At one point, Joseph was even preparing for the worst case scenario, of shifting to a music course in another school if he cannot be admitted for enrolment this coming semester.

However, Rod was very worried of his son’s performance in school and tried to settle the matter with PAWS. “I was telling Ms. Cabrera that I was afraid he might be like the other students who commit suicide upon failing their subjects,” he adds.

No need to penalize

UP president Dr. Alfredo Pascual, meanwhile, does not see the need to impose a sanction on Joseph who has already shown willingness to reform.

“In any case, the purpose of our penal system is to reform offenders. Candare has already shown his willingness to change his ways in dealing with cats and other animals,” Dr. Pascual says.

He also clarifies that the ongoing review of the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline has been going on even before he assumed the presidency this year, and was not in any way triggered by the conviction of Joseph.

Nevertheless, Dr. Pascual says he has instructed the people conducting the review to look into the need to provide a corresponding action by the University on students convicted of criminal offenses by the courts.

Pascual, however, stresses that the case of Joseph is an isolated case and must be viewed in perspective.

“Just because one student committed animal cruelty does not mean that a trend has been established warranting a drastic action by the University. I am sure UP students are generally friendly to animals, including cats,” he says.

Stiffer penalties and education programs

Two days after his conviction, Joseph already began his volunteer service at the PAWS shelter. Anna says he was made to clean litterboxes, mop the floors, and wipe down the cats. He also was given a one-on-one animal sensitivity program seminar where participants are taught how to develop empathy for animals.

“We are really lobbying for stiffer penalties, we want imprisonment for all animal offenders and to increase the fine but not for Joseph who has already shown remorse and regret. Initially, we were hesitant to allow him to go to our shelter and hold our animals, but since we give second chances even to animals, we also ought to give Joseph a second chance,” Anna says.

PAWS has currently 12 cruelty cases filed in court. The cases involve a dog being bludgeoned to death, cat or dog shooting, dog fighting, dog neglect, cat starved in cat traps, etc.

Apart from filing cases, PAWS and other animal welfare groups are promoting love for animals through intensified education and awareness campaigns.

Rochelle says PETA, for instance, has been working with educators in providing humane education materials to integrate in their teaching curriculum. These materials which aim to integrate compassion for animals, come in the form of videos, downloadable lesson plans and student activity sheets, posters, and publications that are given to schools for free.

“PAWS believes that by teaching people to be kind to animals, we are not just helping animals but humans as well. Humans cultivate compassion and respect for all life through kind treatment of animals. Hence, PAWS and other animal welfare groups help promote a more peaceful, compassionate society,” ends Anna.