Dyed fish, anyone?

A joint team from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the city police seized yesterday in Malabon several tubs of fish that had been bathed in cloth dye to make them look fresh.

Andres Menguito of the BFAR Central office’s law enforcement section led the raiding team.

Malabon investigator Police Officer 1 Rommel Habig said they arrested fish dealer Theresa Panganiban for violating Republic Act 8550, the Philippine Fisheries Law.

Panganiban was arrested at around 1 a.m. yesterday after they received reports about the sale and distribution of “unsafe” fish.

Authorities said the scadfish (galunggong) had been dyed blue and the “dalagang bukid” dyed red. Samples of the fish seized from Panganiban have been sent to the fish morgue for testing.

Panganiban defended herself by saying that the haul was only sold to her. She said she would have earned a neat profit as the seized fish was sold to her dirt-cheap.

Panganiban has been turned over to maritime authorities as charges are being readied against her.   – Jerry Botial