Cattle rustling in 1st district alarming

By Leny G. Gabo

Alarmed with the rising cases of cattle rustling in the first district of Iloilo, Board Member Macario Napulan sponsored a resolution urging a stop on the illegal activity.

Napulan said that he is concerned with the cattle owners who are merely farmers.

Napulan said almost 30 cattle were recorded missing from December 2004 up to this month in the first district. The total number is only from the police blotters. Napulan expressed that there are still many lost cattle, which are not reported to authorities. He referred to the remote areas of the district.

Vice Governor Roberto Armada said that the statistics of cattle rustling as reported by Napulan is alarming. He said that the police should take it seriously.

Napulan gave his action points for the problem. He recommends that all cattle must be branded or registered at the barangays. Further, he mentioned that transfer of such animals should be regulated. Mostly, he said that there should be an anti-cattle rustling drive, there should be an ordinance urging barangays officials to report recorded lost cattle in their respective areas to the PNP and PNP should conduct close monitoring.