NBI seizes fake canned meat

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently confiscated P1.5 million worth of "imitated" canned luncheon meat believed to contain cat and rat meat from a warehouse in Tondo just before the canned goods were distributed in several parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

NBI-Field Operations Division (FOD) head agent Roland Argabioso yesterday said they seized from the warehouse located at 1320 Juan Luna Street, Tondo, Manila 48,000 pieces of canned luncheon meat contained in 2,000 boxes on March 21. Each box contained 24 cans.

The luncheon meat also used deceptive labels, the NBI said, reportedly fashioned after the Chinese brand "Ma Ling" called "Mazing" with the label text’s font sized smaller than the original.

In the fake product, the picture of the luncheon meat was a reddish color and the products had no registered distributor.

A can of original Ma Ling costs around P45, while the bogus product is sold at P32. They believe these cans of "imitated" luncheon meat were shipped from China.

Argabioso said they are still determining the contents of the seized items. "An informant told us that the manufacturers might have used cat or rat meat. But we are still waiting for the report of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for confirmation. At this time, these canned products are (considered) not safe for consumption."

One can obtained from a "test buy" was submitted to the National Meat Inspection Service and their laboratory results showed that "the pork DNA of the said (luncheon meat) is negative" meaning the NMIS determined the quantity of pork in the product at zero.

However, Argabioso said the NMIS report does not automatically mean that the "imitated" luncheon meat contains cat and rat meat. "The product might even be made of vegetables."

The NBI secured a search warrant from Judge Emma Young, of Branch 36 of the Manila City Regional Trial Court, for Carmelo Sy – the alleged owner of the luncheon meat shipment.

Sy eluded arrest because he was not present in the warehouse at the time of the raid. Charges of violating Republic Act 3720 or the Food, Drugs and Devices and Cosmetics Act will be filed against Sy once the NBI receives the BFAD report on the confiscated canned goods.

At 2 p.m. Wednesday, the NBI raided the Tondo warehouse in the presence of Ong Sin Bin, lawyer Teresita Pag_linawan and representatives of Barangay 56 Led by Councilor Richard Isidro.

The bureau’s FOD received an intelligence report on March 1 that Sy was reportedly engaged in the distribution of fake Ma Ling luncheon meat without securing a permit to distribute the foodstuffs.

They conducted test buy and surveillance operations on the warehouse and purchased a box of the canned meat for P760 in Divisoria.

Argabioso said they will temporarily store the seized items in their office while awaiting the court order. – Evelyn Macairan