EL NIDO, PALAWAN — Authorities are hunting down a man accused of sexually assaulting a goat in Barangay Bucana, El Nido, on Sunday evening.

According to the El Nido Municipal Police Station, the suspect was seen by residents committing the act in a secluded area of the barangay. The incident was immediately reported to barangay officials, who then coordinated with the police.

Police said the goat’s owner discovered the animal injured and distressed, prompting the filing of a complaint. The suspect fled the scene before authorities arrived.

Law enforcers are now conducting a manhunt and have urged the public to cooperate by providing information on the suspect’s whereabouts. “We are taking this case seriously. Acts of cruelty against animals are punishable under the Animal Welfare Act,” a police official said.

The Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (Republic Act 8485, as amended by RA 10631) prohibits maltreatment and sexual abuse of animals, with violators facing imprisonment and fines.

Local officials condemned the incident, stressing that such acts are not only criminal but also deeply disturbing to the community. The goat is currently being treated by a local veterinarian.

The case has sparked outrage among residents and animal welfare advocates, who are calling for stricter enforcement of laws protecting animals from abuse.

This Is Not a Joke, It Is a Warning

Incidents like this are often laughed off online, turned into memes or whispered as grotesque curiosities. That reaction is dangerous.

Sexual abuse of animals is not just cruelty. It is a serious crime and a red flag. Studies and law enforcement experience worldwide have long shown that extreme acts of animal abuse often point to deeper behavioral and psychological issues. Ignoring them puts communities at risk.

This is not about shaming a poor or disturbed individual for spectacle. It is about recognizing that cruelty, especially sexual violence toward animals, reflects a breakdown of moral, social, and mental health safeguards. When such acts surface, they demand swift justice, firm enforcement, and proper intervention.

The Animal Welfare Act exists for a reason. It must be enforced fully, not treated as a secondary concern. Authorities must pursue this case aggressively, not quietly let it fade.

Communities must also stop normalizing cruelty as “just another weird story.” Violence, even against animals, escalates when ignored.

Protecting animals is not a niche advocacy. It is about protecting society itself. When cruelty is tolerated, humanity erodes. This case should disturb us, and it should move us to act.