Mandaue City vet gets death threats

CEBU, Philippines - The city veterinarian of Mandaue City allegedly received death threats last week following the controversy on the alleged contaminated meat products being sold at the public market.

Dr. Daisy Penetrante reportedly received the death threat at about 9 a.m. Friday prompting her to immediately report it to the Mandaue City Police Office.

But she added she is not afraid and she did not even ask for security as police said it was just a simple threat.

The veterinarian believed the threat was work-related and she believed that it came from a meat importer.

"Dako nami alkansi basin gusto ka mosunod sa veterinarian sa Talisay gamay na lang panahon tipi ka," the text message reads.

Penetrante however said she is not bothered because she has not done anything bad and that she was just doing her job as the city veterinarian.

She said it was the second threat she received in her 12 years as city veterinarian of Mandaue. She also got a death threat before from a co-worker.

Meanwhile, Penetrante yesterday said the samples of chorizo, chicken, pork, beef meat and frozen meats being sold at the city public market were already being sent to the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) in Manila and she is hopeful that the result will come out next week.

Penetrante explained that in order to avoid accusations being biased, samples of both local and imported meat products sold at the local market were sent to Manila for test sampling.

She also confirmed yesterday that the city's abattoir is now operational contrary to the rumors that animals are still being slaughtered in Barangay Mantuyong.

She said other private slaughterhouses and dressing plants for chickens in the city are also being inspected by meat inspectors daily. /WAB (FREEMAN)