Mayor sets reward for duck-killers
A reward has now been set for whoever can put to an end to the massacre of ducks in Buenavista, Guimaras, the money put up by no less than Town Mayor Samuel Gumarin. With the residents in at least three barangays here still waiting for answers on the unexplained and mysterious deaths of ducks in the area, up for grabs is P3,000.
If radio reports are to be considered, the suspects are two black dogs described as huge, hairy and scary-looking. For a while rats in ricelands were also named as possible culprits yet in a latest statement, local agriculture officials trimmed down the list to "four-legged creatures."
The number of 'slaughtered' ducks rose significantly days after the report was first made public. From about 100 heads, the actual count is now believed to be over two hundred with rounds still underway to determine the figure. And from the six families in the three adjacent villages reported to have been victimized, the number has now doubled as well.
News of the reward easily spread throughout the town as volunteer hunters increased in number and might. To recall, the dead ducks hugged local news following a call for help by the Hallasco family in Sitio Wayang, Barangay Mclain that was followed up by more complaints. The Hallasco household expressed concern after the discovery of some eight ducks killed in the previous week, the second incident after a similar one in August. A neighbor, a certain Allan reached then by Bombo Radyo Guimaras Correspondent Eugene Reyes said he lost 22 ducks to the unknown 'killers'. What further alarmed and raised fear here were the bite marks found in all dead ducks, blood drained and the insides all missing.
And more duck killings too in Sitio Jaya Barangay Salvacion and New Poblacion all of Buenavista town. Wild talks then abound of a possible "vampire" in the area furthered by suspicions raised on the presence of new neighbors and transient visitors in the community.
It was also in Sitio Jaya where tricycle driver Pedoc Looma reportedly saw two huge black dogs in the middle of the night prowling around the neighborhood. By Friday morning, barangay officials were told of more duck killings ultimately blamed to the black dogs.
As such, male residents have joined nightly rounds organized by the barangay as members of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) here focused their efforts on finding the unknown duck-killers. The incident has caused residents to stay indoors come nighttime particularly children who no longer play outside their houses.
Local veterinarian Ken Patrick Uy reached then for comment said the possible "suspects" could be the rabid wildcats in the area with the current season the "mating and breeding period".