Cebu pork smugglers, sellers face imprisonment

MANILA, Philippines — Anyone caught smuggling and selling pork and related products from Luzon and countries affected by African swine fever (ASF) may be imprisoned, Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia has warned her constituents.

During a meeting of the ASF task force on Friday, Garcia said an ordinance passed by the Cebu provincial board on Sept. 16, bans the entry of hogs, boar semen, pork and processed meat from Luzon and ASF-hit countries.

She said violators face fine of P5,000 aside from imprisonment of up to six months.

Garcia said establishments selling pork and related products have been identified.

“We will file a case against them under the ordinance,” she said.

Provincial veterinarian Mary Rose Vincoy said the ASF task force would conduct stricter monitoring as the holiday season approaches.

Garcia had earlier said she is looking at banning pork and processed meat from Eastern Visayas after its officials lifted the ban on products from Luzon.

She said she would discuss the matter with members of the ASF task force.

Garcia urged Cebu port officials to screen the baggage of passengers from Eastern Visayas to prevent the entry of products from ASF-hit areas.

The Cebu ASF task force had confiscated 5,287 kilos of pork from various markets, convenience stores and ports. It also shipped back P1.14 million worth of swine and 2,773 kilos of processed meat worth P3 million.