Updates On 9th Mar 2013
ACRES 
Mar 9, 2013 
ACRES, NGOs 
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The animal protection groups filed a lawsuit to fight for the rights of the dolphins and we regret that RWS has filed a lawsuit seeking money from the groups. Justice has not been served for these dolphins. We will continue our efforts to speak up for the dolphins and we will not be silenced said Mr. Louis Ng, Chief Executive of ACRES.
Please help to share this press release and keep the pressure on RWS.
For immediate release
PRESS RELEASE
9 March 2013
INDIRECT CONTEMPT CHARGES AGAINST RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA (RWS) HEARD IN COURT; RWS FILES SLAPP SUIT AGAINST ANIMAL PROTECTION NGOs
Manila, Philippines, 9 March 2013 – In a Court hearing yesterday in the Philippines, animal protection NGOs pursued indirect contempt charges against RWS. The charges relate to the re-export of 25 dolphins last year while a case on whether or not the dolphins should be re-exported was still being heard in Court. A judgment is expected within 30 days. One dolphin died en route to Singapore.
According to the Urgent Manifestation and Motion filed by Earth Island Institute (EII), Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), CARA Welfare Philippines and concerned individuals on 20 November 2012, even before and while the Honorable Court was conducting a hearing on the Motion for Reconsideration on the Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO), the respondents had already flown out 11 dolphins from the country in full defiance of the administration of justice in the Philippines. To make matters worse, we stress again that the Respondents (including RWS) did not even have the decency to inform the Honorable Court that they had already taken out the eleven dolphins before the Honorable Court last November 19, 2012.
The Motion further reads: This makes a mockery of the proceedings in this case and is in brazen and utter contempt of this Honorable Court and the entire administration of justice in the country.
Indirect contempt falls under Rule 71 of the Revised Rules on Civil Procedure for any improper conduct, tending directly or indirectly, to impede, obstruct or to degrade the administration of justice. Penalties for indirect contempt are a fine and/or imprisonment.
Meanwhile, in a Motion dated 20 November 2012, RWS filed a compulsory counterclaim against the animal protection NGOs amounting to 4 Million Pesos for moral, exemplary damages and legal fees.
RWS claims that the groups put the company in a very bad light, portraying it as a violator of environmental laws and oppressive to its animals and that the lawsuit filed was wrongful, baseless and malicious. For that reason, RWS requested that the court dismiss the petition filed by the groups and to burden the latter to pay for the moral, exemplary damages and legal fees.
EII, PAWS and CARA, however, believe that this is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suit that is meant to harass and silence environmental advocates seeking the implementation of environmental laws.
SLAPP is defined by the Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases, promulgated by the Supreme Court in 2010, as A legal action filed to harass, vex, exert undue pressure or stifle any legal recourse that any person, institution or the government has taken or may take in the enforcement of environmental laws, protection of the environment or assertion of environmental rights.
The animal protection NGOs assert that the case against RWS seeks the implementation of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of the Philippines.
Asked about the effect of the SLAPP case against the animal protection NGOs, EII Philippines Regional Director Trixie Concepcion said the best way RWS can tarnish its reputation is to file a case against the countrys leading animal protection NGOs. According to Concepcion, SLAPPs cannot deter good people with a rightful cause, rather, they will even give us the avenue to clearly present the arguments for our case.
The animal protection groups filed a lawsuit to fight for the rights of the dolphins and we regret that RWS has filed a lawsuit seeking money from the groups. Justice has not been served for these dolphins. We will continue our efforts to speak up for the dolphins and we will not be silenced said Mr. Louis Ng, Chief Executive of ACRES.
- ends -
Notes to editors
The campaign to urge Resorts World Sentosa to please let the dolphins go is in partnership with Earth Island Institute. Earth Island Institute is a non-profit, public interest, membership organisation that supports people who are creating solutions to protect our shared planet. For 25 years, Earth Island Institute has been a hub for grassroots campaigns dedicated to conserving, preserving, and restoring the ecosystems on which our civilisation depends.
ACRES is a pioneering Singapore-based charity and Institution of Public Character, founded by Singaporeans in 2001 with the aim of advocating for an end to animal cruelty in Asia.
Campaign videos and campaign information are available at: www.saddestdolphins.com
Source: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151349520391523&set=a.223077136522.136042.22159071522&type=1&relevant_count=1
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