The Pasay City Veterinary Office confiscated 230 kilos of spoiled meat in a surprise inspection they conducted along Tramo street Tuesday night.
Dr. Rolando Bernasor, chief of the veterinary office, said they were able to seize from Honorio Bitang and his nephew Benjie Bitang 80 kilos of rotting meat already chopped into pieces and placed inside a sack, as well as a dead pig weighing 50 kilos.
Benjie served as the driver of the passenger jeepney that delivered the meat. The suspects had the spoiled meat mixed with at least six live hogs in order to hide their illegal delivery.
“The jeepney was about to proceed to the Libertad Market but even before the suspects were able to leave, we caught them in the act of loading the ‘hot meat’ on another vehicle after they successfully sold it to one of their customers,” Bernasor said adding that policemen who accompanied them in their operation arrested the two suspects.
The rotting pork meat reportedly originated from Lemery, Batangas.
The two men were charged with violating the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines and the Consumers Act of the Philippines.
The inspection is part of the continuous operations conducted by Bernasor’s office against meat vendors engaged in trade malpractice, particularly with the Christmas season fast approaching.
The meat was used to feed the crocodiles at the crocodile farm along Roxas Boulevard. – Rhodina Villanueva