Hot meat seized in Pasay

Some 80 kilos of hot meat were confiscated by a team from the Pasay City Veterinary Office in an operation they conducted early morning yesterday along Primero de Mayo Street.

Dr. Ronaldo Bernasor, city veterinarian, identified the vendor of the rotting meat as Gilbert Porteza, 37, married and resident of No. 285 Primero de Mayo Street, Pasay City. Porteza was arrested while he was about to meet customers in a makeshift stall near his house around 2:30 a.m.

Bernasor said the team led by Godofredo Villafranca passed by the area and saw Porteza acting strange like he was hiding something. This prompted the group to check on Porteza’s stall and there they saw the spoiled chopped meat hidden under the table. The meat which already smelled bad, was brought to the Crocodile Farm in Roxas Boulevard and were used as feeds for the crocodiles.

Charges of Violation of RA 7394 (Consumers Act of the Philippines), RA 9296 (Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines) and Violation of City Ordinance No. 4090 Series of 2008 (Transporting and Selling of Hot Meat) have been filed against Porteza who is now in police custody. – Rhodina Villanueva