QC council wants stiffer penalties for ‘hot’ meat sellers

The Quezon City Council will propose an ordinance that will seek stiffer penalties, including immediate revocation of business permits of establishments selling “hot” or “double-dead” meat, or meat from animals that died from disease or other causes.

Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista said the other targets of the proposed measure are market administrators who tolerate the presence of hot meat dealers in the vicinity of their respective establishments.

“There is a need to introduce stiff measure against unscrupulous businessmen,” Bautista told city hall employees during yesterday’s flag raising ceremony.

He said the legislative action is in support of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s continuing crackdown on the proliferation of double-dead meat at the Balintawak market, reportedly the favorite dumping ground of hot meat from Bulacan and nearby provinces.

City health officials, backed up by the police and meat inspectors, have confiscated tons of hot meat in a series of raids in Balintawak market over the past several months.          – Perseus Echeminada