Smuggled pigs seized

CEBU, Philippines — Only a day after Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued an executive order establishing an “Anti-Smuggling Inter-Agency Task Force,” in Cebu province, Dumanjug authorities intercepted a motorized banca carrying undocumented hogs, as it arrived in Barangay Kanyuko.

The governor has expressed concern over the food safety that these smuggled hogs pose to the public, emphasizing that Cebu has made significant efforts to ensure that meat sold in market is safe for consumption.

“How can we be assured of the safety of these hogs if they have not been certified by the local [veterinarians] as well as gone through the proper processes in securing permits from the DA?” Garcia said.

Around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dumanjug police intercepted the motorized banca at the barangay shoreline, discovering 79 undocumented pigs that reportedly came from Negros Oriental.

Dumanjug police reported that the operation was carried out following an intelligence report about boats arriving with hogs that did not have the necessary documentation.

Local authorities coordinated with the Provincial Mobile Force Company Moalboal-based led by Police Lieutenant Elias Torres, Municipal Livestock Coordinator Alberto Dayuta Jr., and the Philippine Coast Guard Tangil Substation led by Petty Officer 2 Joy Dayon for the cooperation.

Upon arriving at the scene, authorities found an abandoned motor banca and two vehicles—a Mazda truck (JAM 7434) and a Suzuki multicab (GTJ 702) were loaded with smuggled pigs.

Dumanjug police confiscated the vehicles that were reportedly displaying Cebu-based license plates.

The intercepted motorized banca is already with the Philippine Coast Guard while the smuggled pigs were taken into custody.

However, those involved individuals in the smuggling operation on Saturday night have managed to escape.

“Actually, wala nana sila maapsi kay nanagan na man. Ang nahabilin kana nalang mga live hogs ug katong banca, ug mga multi-cab,” said Police Staff Sergeant Merlou Dapar.

He told The Freeman that an investigation is still in progress to identify the individuals involved in the smuggling operation.

Dapar said they are not letting their guards down, as their station conducts monitoring and surveillance every hour in at least eight coastal barangays in Dumanjug town.

These barangays Bitoon, Calaboon, Camboang, Kanyuko, Li-ong, Poblacion, Tapon, and Tangil.

“Among gidoble, gi-triple namo among time para mag-surveillance, mag-monitor sa coastal areas,” Dapar said.

On the other hand, Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano “GunGun” Gica told The Freeman that the Dumanjug local government unit will activate ita barangay monitor of the areas instead of relying only on the local policemen.

“We will activate our bantay dagat, we will activate all barangay tanods, and barangay officials. We will not only rely on our PNP (Philippine National Police) personnel, we will activate also our barangays officials,” said Gica.

This was after he was told that police officials were allegedly involved in the smuggling activities in Dumanjug town.

Gica shared that since last year he has been receiving reports from barangay officials that there are pump boats allegedly from Negros Island that continue to dock in Dumanjug's coastal areas, bringing smuggled pigs to Cebu, allegedly with the involvement of local policemen.

Gica, who is out of the country, said that he was shocked when he knew that three police officers of the Dumanjug Police Station were already relieved from their posts due to the allegation.

“This is an insult to my administration, given the fact that I am very supportive sa atoang mga PNP personnel,” said Gica.

“I gave everything that they need, nagsobra ang suporta sa munisipyo sa police station. Gani, na-spoiled gani tingali nako ang mga police,” he added.

Gica also said that during the operations last Saturday night, someone informed him that there will be five pump boats carrying pigs that would try to dock in Kanyuko.

“Luckily, naay nagpahibaw nako, I told them to keep it silent. I called the few police officers that I trust to man the area, so mao to siyay nahitabo,” Gica said.

Although the intelligence report suggested that several boats were planning to cross, only one actually did, while the others were believed to have abandoned their mission.

Meanwhile, Gica emphasized that the executive order (EO) establishing a task force, along with Memorandum No. 36-2024, which urged 11 southern Cebu municipalities to form a local task groups to combat smuggling of livestock, goods, and other cargo through Cebu's shorelines and ports, is essential in addressing this issue.

“We need that (EO). Actually, we already did that,” the mayor said. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (CEBU NEWS)