Friday, June 13, 2008 200 kilos of 'rotten' chicken meat seized
AUTHORITIES confiscated anew about 200 kilos of "rotten" chicken meat in Pasay City before dawn Thursday following a month-long surveillance operation.
City veterinarian Dr. Ronaldo Benasor said the seizure took place at 4 a.m. in an apartment located at the corner of Raymundo Street and Taft Avenue.
But the raiding team composed of personnel from the local veterinary and health office assisted by Pasay policemen did not find the apartment's owner who has apparently gone into hiding.
"We have been keeping the apartment under surveillance for more than a month after we received information about this. We also observed traces of blood and chicken feathers in the area," Bernasor said.
He said the meat was already sliced and packed in plastic bags apparently for delivery.
He said the meat was treated with preservatives to prevent stench from coming out.
A vat of chlorine was also found in the apartment.
The official said they are now investigating the source of the contaminated meat while charges are being readied for filing against the still unidentified owner.
According to Bernasor, they were able to prove that the tainted meat was being sold at P70 per kilo, much lower than the prevailing market price for chicken.
A vendor, initially identified as certain Deo Derinal, will be charged with violation of the Meat Inspection Code and the Consumer Act.
The vendor was reportedly caught while cleaning chicken parts in the raided apartment.
Following the confiscation and test conducted on the meat, the City Veterinary Office (CVO) said it will be taken to a crocodile farm at Roxas Boulevard.
Meanwhile, Pasay Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad ordered a thorough investigation into the matter, and directed Benasor to coordinate with neighboring cities to see if the contaminated meat has been brought there.
Last year, Pasay authorities confiscated about 700 kilos of "double dead" pork meat, which were set to be delivered to a local public market.
The CVO said it intercepted the contaminated meat from a truck driven by Rex Panganiban, 36, of San Vicente, Bulacan.
Then the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) has raised an alert for hog cholera outbreak in six regions in Luzon, including Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Pampanga.
Hog cholera, scientifically called Classical Swine Fever (CSF), is a highly contagious disease of pigs and wild boar. It causes fever, skin lesions, convulsions and death for young animals within 15 days. (AH/Sunnex)
