CEBU, Philippines - Authorities conducted a surprise inspection of markets in Talisay City Monday night and seized more than 30 kilos of meat that evaded government inspection.
City veterinary officer Santiago Hortel led the raid on market stalls in barangays Tabunok and San Roque.
Hortel said the stalls are usually put up late at night by vendors who sell the hot meat to unsuspecting buyers.
The seized hot meat included 18 kilos of imported meat, 16 kilos of chicken heads, and six kilos of chicken feet.
Hortel said the seized smuggled meat did not have any meat inspection certificate.
It did not have the branding that would signify that it has undergone proper inspection and slaughter.
Normally, stall owners found to be selling hot meat are made to pay three times the monthly rental for the stall for the first offense and a higher penalty for the second offense.
Those that commit the offense for the third time would have to let go of their stalls.
Hortel said his office has intensified routine inspections in markets after receiving information that smuggled meat comes in barrels, styrofoam containers, and carts.
Hortel said the hot meat may have come from animals that had been slaughtered in ways that did not conform to sanitary standards.
Aside from this, there is also no way for the public to know if the slaughtered animals are carriers of diseases which may endanger the lives of those who will eat the meat. (FREEMAN)