The city veterinary office is eyeing charges against a policeman who owns a meat shop that was found to be selling hot meat three times already.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña has recommended the filing of charges against PO3 Jeffrey Archival, who operates a meat shop in barangay Pit-os.
City veterinarian Alice Utlang said that for the third time, they have confiscated meat from the policeman’s meat store, which has been operating without a registration from her office.
The Operation Hot Meat of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries confiscated some 70 kilograms of pork meat from Archival’s store last Tuesday.
Utlang said that aside from operating without a registration, Archival also did not slaughter his animal in the city-accredited abattoir, making the products from his shop hot meat.
“If he is selling meat, he should have his shop registered with our office. The legitimate meat shop owners are complaining why he is allowed to sell meat even if he does not have a registration,” she added.
Utlang said they first confiscated Archival’s meat products in 2005 and gave him a warning. In 2006, the policeman again committed the same violation that resulted to confiscation of his products.
With the third offense, and with the recommendation of Mayor Osmeña, Utlang said they will file a case against Archival in court.
She said they would forward the report to the City Attorney’s Office for the filing of charges.
Utlang said that they have intensified their operation against hot meat because they anticipate that some unscrupulous individuals will take advantage of the high demand for meat this holiday season.
Last Wednesday, Operation Hot Meat confiscated some 300 kilograms of meat from Plaridel Misamis Occidental at the pier area.
The following day, some 100 kilograms of meat from Brazil were also confiscated at the Carbon and Tabo-an markets. These meats were supposed to be sold at a very cheap price to be made into chorizo. — Wenna A. Berondo/QSB