Bird flu alarm raised over smuggled ducks

The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) has warned that the avian flu virus may spread to the Philippines following reports that thousands of frozen Peking ducks seized from a Navotas warehouse last week may not have passed inspection by veterinary authorities.

“The public health is at stake here. We are still trying to track down where the other bulk of the frozen fowls were distributed. The Bureau of Customs should not be lax on this matter. The seized Peking ducks were taken out of the BOC without one of its officials knowing it,” PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. said.

Villar noted that the EJG Mighty Duck Farm, the sole producer and supplier of Peking duck in the country, belied claims by the lawyer of the raided warehouse that the frozen ducks were locally produced.

BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales, on the other hand, said they will investigate Villar’s allegations.

Morales said he is willing to coordinate with Villar to determine if the frozen ducks could be carrying the virus.

He called on Villar to “furnish us a report, the container number of the shipment, so we can validate and review what its violations are” and if there is any collusion between BOC personnel and unscrupulous traders.

Morales said it is only proper that before Villar makes insinuations that there is rampant smuggling of infected fowl, the PASG should first validate its claim.          – Evelyn Macairan