Violence, authority and the business of trust

Just as the year draws to a close, another shocking case of animal cruelty has dominated headlines.

- JOE ZALDARRIAGA

The brutal killing of a dog, allegedly by a local official in Sadanga, Mountain Province, sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability.

News reports reveal a disturbing incident during a community gathering, where Axle — an American pitbull — was repeatedly struck with a wooden object by a man identified as a municipal official. CCTV footage circulating on social media shows the dog desperately trying to escape while the blows continued. Tragically, Axle later succumbed to the severe injuries inflicted during the attack.

While some may dismiss animal cruelty as a lesser issue compared to the human-centered ills plaguing our society, the death of Axle at the hands of someone in authority is not simply about the loss of one animal's life — it is a betrayal of public trust.

It is frustrating and disappointing that someone entrusted to uphold the law is allegedly the very person violating it. Animal cruelty is not a trivial matter — it reflects a deeper disregard for life and compassion. Allowing such behavior to go unchecked normalizes violence and erodes the values of empathy and responsibility that should prevail, especially among public officials, whose very essence of duty is to serve.

After all, how can we trust those in power to uphold the law when they themselves inflict violence on the most vulnerable and voiceless? When authority is abused to commit cruelty, accountability must be swift and consequences harsher, not lighter.