By LIWAY C. MANANTAN YPARRAGUIRRE
 
SAN CARLOS CITY – The local police has launched a cattle branding measure to counter the age-old problem on cattle rustling here.
           
Supt. Johnny Bacbac, police chief, said the method is not new at all.  It is basically a strict implementation of Presidential Decree 553 otherwise known as the Anti-Cattle Rustling Law of 1974.
           

The law however thru the years has been largely taken for granted both by both the farmers who own large cattle (cow, carabao, horse) and the authorities supposed to implement it– the agriculture and treasurer’s offices of local government units — not only in Pangasinan, but in the entire country. 
           
Bacbac said the law says “all large cattle from age six months above should be ‘branded.’ And any large cattle without any brand or document is presumed a stolen animal.”
           
Branding means marking large cattle with the use of hot iron rod. Bacbac said being marked at the animal’s left thigh is the city or municipal’s brand or assigned number. At the right is the owner’s brand, usually the initials of the owner.
           
San Carlos City’s assigned number is 23.
           
Not long after his assumption as PNP officer-in-charge here, Bacbac said he coordinated with City Mayor Julian B. Resuello and the city treasurer’s office for the conduct of massive branding and documentation of large cattle.
           
“This is not only a counter measure against cattle rustling but also a revenue generating activity for the city.  We are also bringing government service to the farmers as they don’t have to bring their farm animals to the city hall just for it to be registered and branded,” Bacbac remarked.
           
With the team composed of two representatives from the treasurer’s office and four from the police station led by the police chief himself, Bacbac said they started the project on April 27.
           
So far, 42 cows have been branded or marked in barangay Bacnar, 23 in barangay Balite. The team also visited barangays Turac (62 cows), Agdao (47), Doyong (3), Malacañang (40), Pangalangan (12), Aponit (14).
           
Barangays Cobol, Elintap and Inerangan will have their schedule tomorrow, May 29.;Matagdem (May 30), Tandoc (May 31), Tarece (June 1), Pangoloan (June 2), and back to Inerangan and Nelintap on June 6.
           
While at the barangays, the police also conducts dialogue with the local folks giving tips on how to protect their farm animals and on how to report to the police suspicious goings-on in their area.

“Documents of large cattle being transported are thoroughly checked while the cows are bodily checked if they are branded” the police chief said. “Otherwise, we will ask the animal without brand to be brought down (on the ) presumption that it is stolen. Also, animals being brought home from the field will undergo the same process,” he added.

Bacbac said policemen are also assigned at the Livestock Market and at the slaughterhouse, still to spot check the animals being brought there.

The police chief said they intend to stop the illegal practice of some “iskribientes” or those in charge of marking animals who connive with animal sellers or transporters of large cattle by branding the animals right at the livestock market or slaughterhouse to give these the semblance of “legality” and be eligible for sale or slaughter.
           
“We have to be vigilant to protect our farmers from unscrupulous people,” Bacbac said.