Meat inspector asked to explain violation

A meat inspector of the Talisay City government is in hot water again for allegedly issuing a meat inspection certificate to a hog owner even whose animals were not slaughtered in an authorized slaughterhouse.

Talisay City veterinarian Galileo Larawan, in a memorandum dated last Monday, asked meat inspector Loida Debalucos to explain her actions.

This after an employee and security guards of the slaughterhouse reported to Larawan that Debalucos allowed three swine carcasses to enter the premises last Sunday at 3 a.m. and five heads of carcasses the following morning.

Debalucos was assigned to the slaughterhouse from 9 p.m. last Sunday until 3 a.m. the following day. She did not report for work Monday night.

Last June 4 and 6, Debalucos allegedly issued fake inspection certificates to vendors following verification by the Cebu City Veterinary Office with the Talisay City veterinarian.

Debalucos reportedly inspected 450 of the 1,555 dressed chickens confiscated by a team of Alice Utlang of the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries during the "Operation Hot Meat" at Carbon Market on June 4 and 6.

City administrator Aurora Econg, also chairwoman of the economic enterprise of the new slaughterhouse, said she will recommend Debalucos' transfer to another department.