Lawmakers are pushing for the passage of a bill criminalizing cruelty to animals through video.



Reps. Irwin Tieng and Mariano Michael Velarde (Party-list, BUHAY), authors of House Bill 4595, want to stop the production of "animal crush video," which shows the abuse and killing of animals to excite the viewers.



The bill to be known as the "Anti-Animal Crush Video Act of 2011" will impose penalties on anyone who creates, sells, markets, advertises, exchanges, or distributes an animal crush video.



Violators face a jail term of not more than seven years and a fine of not more than P300,000.



Tieng said animal crush videos cater to those with sexual fetishes. "The hapless victims are mostly dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, snakes, and frogs, depending on the specification of the patron," Tieng said.



He cited video featuring Filipino women torturing an animal while scantily clad either in lingerie, two-piece bikinis, or regular dresses, on the request of the buyer.



"Animal crush videos are obscene in the sense that the depictions, taken as a whole, only appeal to prurient interests in sex. It is patently offensive, and lacks serious, literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. The videos are heinous, barbaric and completely unacceptable," Tieng said.



Tieng said while the bill seeks to penalize the creation and distribution of these horrendous animal crush videos, it also provides exceptions on certain animal videos which are allowed for sale or distribution.



Not covered by the bill are those that depict customary and normal veterinary or agricultural husbandry practices or hunting, trapping, or fishing, according to Tieng.



"Animal torture is outrageously disturbing. Common decency and morality dictate that those engaged in it should not be profiting from it, they should be imprisoned," Tieng said.



Please send polite comments to the Philippine Embassy in the U.S. to show that you support the proposed legislation:

Embassy of the Philippines

1600 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.

Washington, DC 20036

USA

+1-202-4679300

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/philippines-dc/contact-us-dc/

Philippine Embassies in the world:

http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/Philippines