Kabang’s road to recovery: How PETA, vet-guardian saved a horse 

NAGCARLAN, Laguna – When a video of a horse tied to a moving pickup truck surfaced online in February 2026, it immediately sparked anger.  

The horse’s name is Kabang. While many know him then as the horse that ran 25 kilometers and collapsed on a highway in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental, his rescuers describe him as nothing short of gentle and malambing (affectionate). 

Meeting Kabang

Jana Sevilla, senior campaigner of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Philippines, first saw the viral video after a news outlet reached out to her for an interview. 

“[I was] super angry that someone would do that to an animal — to a horse,” she said.

Sevilla gathered information on Kabang’s owner, Jose Castro, and immediately coordinated with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), which confirmed the owner’s ranch was not registered. 

The BAI then issued a show-cause order to Castro for violating Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act, which states that animal facilities must first obtain a certificate of registration from the bureau before operating. 

Soon after, Sevilla flew to Misamis Oriental to personally serve the show-cause order to Castro. She tracked him down through his mother, who directed Sevilla to Castro’s house in Lagonglong, where she met Kabang for the first time. 

“When I saw him, he was skinny. He was lethargic. And he looked so sad. His life there had no enrichment at all,” said Sevilla. 

At the ranch, she took videos of the injured Kabang and sent them to Dr. Janela Silva, who also flew to Misamis Oriental to examine him in person. There, she diagnosed him with severe lameness, hoof inflammation, and hip pain. 

Silva recommended taking Kabang to Batangas for an X-ray, which would require Sevilla to secure full custody of the horse. 

Trip to Batangas

Securing full custody of Kabang proved to be another challenge. Sevilla wrote to several municipalities for help in filing the case, but often received no response. 

Since Kabang needed to reach Batangas as soon as possible, and securing a court order was difficult, PETA decided to make special arrangements with Castro instead. 

“The agreement was that we will not file a case against Castro, but he will give the full custody of Kabang to PETA, and he will not be allowed to care for any animals for the rest of his life,” Sevilla explained. 

The PETA official recalled that Castro first defended himself and said what he was doing was horse endurance training — using techniques learned from ancestors — for his business. 

But Castro eventually agreed to compromise and signed the contract in front of representatives from the Department of Agriculture and the BAI. 

After successfully securing custody, PETA made the necessary logistical arrangements for the trip to Batangas. 

6-day travel

The journey was not easy. Securing the documents and travel permits was only the beginning. Luckily, Sevilla was accompanied by Dr. Steve Ternura — the man who was about to change Kabang’s life. 

They both remembered how only very few ships allowed livestock, so they had no choice but to travel by land and sea. Accommodations that allowed big animals to stay were equally scarce, leaving Sevilla, Ternura, and their driver with only two nights of sleep in those six days. 

Ternura and Sevilla also recalled an incident on the second day of the trip. Kabang panicked over a white vehicle — an incident that first happened in Libertad. This confirmed that what happened to the horse was beyond physical damage.

Throughout the journey, Ternura played a crucial role, staying with Kabang in the horse trailer to keep him comfortable and monitor his condition.

Kabang connection

Ternura is no stranger to PETA. He has been working with the organization since its Taal Volcano animal rescue project in 2020. But even after years in the profession, Ternura said Kabang’s story was different from those he had witnessed before. 

“[Why] would you train a horse for trail riding or trail hiking on the highway, right? And then, the distance is too long,” the veterinarian said. 

He described meeting Kabang as one of the highlights of his career, adding that forming a bond with the horse was not difficult. 

“It was not hard kasi si Kabang, malambing siya (It was not hard because Kabang is affectionate),” said Ternura, who first met Kabang at the foster farm in Libertad, where he got to know the horse better. 

Ternura also shared it was during their ferry ride to Batangas that he decided he wanted to adopt Kabang. After spending several days caring for him, Ternura realized he could do the same long-term — and the rest was history. 

Kabang’s new life 

Sevilla and Ternura saw visible changes in Kabang. In his new home, Kabang looks happier, healthier, and more comfortable around people.  

“Wala na siyang worry sa place niya because he can get all the care that he needs (He doesn’t have any worries anymore because he can get all the care that he needs),” said the veterinarian. 

Kabang’s everyday routine now consists of roaming in his paddock in the morning, then getting fed his first meal at 7 am. 

Ternura and his fellow caretaker, Jeffrey, ensure Kabang is well fed throughout the entire day. They are, of course, still mindful of his diet. According to Ternura, this is still needed to successfully manage Kabang’s injuries.

He added that Kabang’s recovery could take another four to six months, but the priority now is to further improve his appetite. 

Ternura performs a physical checkup on the horse every time he visits the farm, but while he is away tending to other animals, he makes sure to check up on Kabang at least 10 times a day.

Protecting animals

People who use business as an excuse to keep animals, Sevilla said, should be held liable. 

“If animals are used for business…their welfare is at the least priority, because they are seen as moneymakers, like machines na parang (treated as if) they don’t feel tired.”

She said this is the reason why PETA continues to urge people to stop supporting businesses that use animals. 

“Malayo pa tayo (We still have a long way to go),” said Ternura, acknowledging that a lot of things still have to be done for change to happen in the Philippines. 

Sevilla urges people to testify and properly report cases of animal cruelty to authorities. She emphasized that posting about them on social media is simply not enough. Legal action has to be taken.

While there is still much work to be done for animal welfare in the Philippines, hope persists for those dedicated to the cause. As Ternura points out, with proper education and awareness, the country can create safer environments for animals like Kabang. – Rappler.com

Charley Dueñas is a Rappler intern and a fourth year AB Communications student from the Ateneo de Manila University.