100 kilos 'hot' pork seized in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said the Veterinary Inspection Board (VIB), which operates the city-owned slaughterhouse in Tondo, Manila, seized 100 kilos of “hot” or “double-dead” pork during its regular surprise inspections of meat vendors and stalls at dawn yesterday.

In a statement, VIB chief Francisco Co said the meat – which came from pigs that died of disease – was seized from two vendors as they were unloading their goods at their mobile stall along C. M. Recto Avenue at around 4:30 a.m.

The VIB seized 50 kilos of hot meat from vendor Elena Oligon. Co said at the prevailing price of P180 per kilo, the seized meat – which the board ruled as unfit for human consumption – has a street value of P18,000.

The seized pork will be buried at the VIB-operated pound near the Manila North Cemetery.           – Sandy Araneta