|
Friday, April 30, 2004
Cargo for hog feeds, not shabu: trader
By MIA E. ABELLANA
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE consignee of the 10 drums seized by the Philippine Center for Aviation Security (PCAS) 7 at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport came out yesterday to clear his name.
Oscar Chua, part owner of Simon Enterprises, told reporters yesterday that the seized shipment was an enzyme to be mixed with poultry and hog feeds and not drugs or any of its precursors.
Chua showed documents to prove that the 250 kilograms of Alkacel 20x Feed Power Premix seized by the PCAS 7 was a legitimate importation from Agri Access based in Seattle, Washington, USA.
He also showed a certificate of product registration from the Bureau of Animal Industry that the product’s generic name is xylanase and b-glucanase and is mixed with feeds to increase digestibility.
Instead of eliminating the feeds as waste, the enzyme helps the animal digest these well, keeping the nutrients instead of eliminating them.
Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, went to the Regional Crime Laboratory yesterday to check on the results of the examination.
Worried
He was worried when the shipment was released immediately despite the conflicting results.
Chief Insp. Myrna Arriola, chief of the PNP Crime Laboratory, said that after several tests on the substance, they failed to find any presence of drugs or its precursors.
She added that they never declared that there were positive results.
Earlier, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 personnel assigned at the airport said their portable tester showed the shipment was positive of drugs.
The shipment was held by the PCAS 7 after noting that the contents of the drums were crystal-like powder resembling pseudoephedrine.
Later on, however, they released the shipment after the PNP Crime Laboratory came out with negative results.
Shipments are being tightly watched after 1,500 kilos of pseudoephedrine from China were seized at the Cebu International Port last month.
Sample
The Crime Laboratory was unable to determine what the substance was, though, but Arriola assured they were taking a sample to Camp Crame to have it checked.
Cuenco (Cebu City, south), who was present to clarify the results, said that for now, it seemed that the shipment did not have any irregularities.
“That is without prejudice to the results from Crame. Innocent until proven guilty,” Cuenco said.
Chua also explained that the shipment was meant to be sent to his Manila branch, but the forwarder committed a mistake by sending it to Cebu, where his main branch is located.
Chua was disappointed that the name of his company was dragged into the picture, saying the bad publicity was difficult to fix.
Though Sun.Star did not name the consignee in its report, Chua said the name Simon Enterprises was broadcast in other television and radio networks.
“Simon Enterprises has been in the business since 1961. It was established by my father. This has caused us sleepless nights,” Chua told reporters, adding that he is thinking about filing a complaint for damages against the PDEA 7.
He pointed out that it would be impossible for a country such as the USA to be exporting any dangerous drug precursors.
(April 30, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
