QC warns ‘hot meat’ dealers

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. warned dealers of unsafe "hot meat" in public markets to stop their illegal operations as he ordered the police and city officials to arrest unscrupulous traders of illegally slaughtered animals in the city.

He said erring traders also sell hot meat during the Christmas season when there is a strong demand for pork, beef and chicken.

A joint team of the Quezon City Veterinary Office, National Meat Inspection Services and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), recently raided stall holders at Dantes, MC, and Riverview markets in Balintawak and seized 3,000 kilos of suspected "double-dead" meat products.

The raiding team was led by Ana Ma. Cabel, officer-in-charge of the QC Veterinary Office, and Senior Inspector Ernor Melgarejo of the CIDG.

The raiding team found the illegal meat packed in ice boxes that were hidden under the stall counters and even in the markets’ comfort rooms. Authorities also found meat, pork carcasses, and slaughtering equipment in the area.

The team, however, failed to arrest any of the hot meat dealers after the vendors escaped when the team arrived at the three markets.

The confiscated meat were later brought to an animal feed manufacturing plant in Valenzuela City for processing.