“Agatatakaw ti nuang nakonsensiya?”: Stolen ‘pang-40 days’ Carabao recovered in Bulanao

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — A carabao reserved for the 40-day commemoration of a deceased family member was recovered in Bulanao on Thursday, August 20, a day after it was reported stolen, through the cooperation of residents and the police.

The carabao was reported missing on August 19 after family members noticed that it was gone from their yard at around 6 a.m.

Thelma Dongdongan Manongyao earlier told GURU Press Cordillera that the livestock had been reserved for the 40-day commemoration of the death of her younger brother in September when it was taken.

CCTV footage retrieved later that day showed a person apparently dragging the carabao in the dark along Viloria Street in Purok 4, Bulanao.

With the help of community members, police were able to track and recover the stolen carabao at around 2 p.m. on August 20 in Sitio Wanti, Bulanao.

With the livestock finally back in their care, Manongyao expressed her gratitude to the community members who helped search for the missing carabao. Some residents even went as far as Pinukpuk and Rizal in the search.

She also thanked private individuals who provided information and CCTV footage that proved vital in locating and recovering the livestock.

“Agyamanak kadakayo amin nga timmulong, nag-sacrifice ti oras yo nga napan nakibirok. Adda pay nakadanon idiay Pinucok, Pinukpuk ken Anonang, Rizal, Kalinga, ket adda lang gayam dita Wanti, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga,” she said.

After a day-long search, the carabao is now back where it belongs—and, hopefully, ready for its original date with the family’s 40-day commemoration.

Manongyao said the widespread reports about the missing carabao on social media may have contributed to its recovery. While it remains unclear whether the person who took the livestock left it because of the public attention, the timing raised the possibility that the reports may have prompted the thief to abandon the animal.