Show papers for seized seafood, BFAR tells owner

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will issue a show cause order to compel the owner of 714 boxes of seafood products seized from a cold storage facility in Navotas on Friday night to present papers to prove these had not been smuggled into the country.

Cashiers Alma Aden and Cheryl Elizalde and delivery man Tito Ybanez Jr. were arrested for allegedly selling smuggled pompano at ICY Point Cold Storage and Processing Corp.

“The BFAR will issue a show cause order for the owner to present legal documents pertaining to the discovered products,” the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said in a statement yesterday.

The three face charges of agricultural smuggling and violating Republic Act 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Department of Agriculture personnel and CIDG operatives recovered 714 boxes of assorted seafood products valued at P1.42 million from the facility.