300 kilos of 'hot meat' seized in Pasay

MANILA, Philippines - Some 300 kilos of hot meat were seized by joint elements of the local police and the City Veterinary Office shortly before midnight Tuesday in Maricaban, Pasay City.

Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, Pasay police chief, said a concerned resident provided information that a tricycle was unloading the double dead meat in an alley along Saint Joan Street in Maricaban, Pasay City at about 11:45 p.m.  

Barangay Chairman Hilario Trestizo of Barangay 186, Zone 19 in Maricaban then relayed the information to personnel of Police Community Precinct 8.

Trestizo together with a number of barangay tanods and Senior Police Officer 1 Romeo Pagulayan proceeded to the identified area and observed a male unloading from the tricycle the said hot meat.  

The suspect was later identified as Rafael Fruelda, 29, single, porter and residing at Bagong Pook, Rosario, Batangas. His companion Roberto Clet, 38, a resident of No. 366 Edang Street, Pasay City, managed to escape.

Meat Inspector 1 Godofredo Villafranca checked the confiscated item which he confirmed as “unfit for human consumption.”

The rotting pork meat was later fed to crocodiles at the Davao Crocodile Farm located at Buendia Avenue in Pasay.

Charges for Violation of RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) and Violation of RA 9296 (National Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines) are now being readied against Fruelda who was brought at the police station.  – Rhodina Villanueva