Traders transporting cholera-infected swine arrested

Sto. Tomas, Batangas – Joint elements of the Philippine National Police and the Provincial Veterinary Office arrested two traders for transporting swine allegedly infected with hog cholera in a checkpoint operation here Friday evening, police said.

Superintendent Raul Tacaca,   Sto. Tomas police chief identified the traders as Lope Zara and his driver Fidel Macalalad of Barangay Quilo-Quilo, Padre Garcia, Batangas. Tacaca said, he was tipped by an informant that a vehicle loaded with infested hogs will pass-by their area, subsequently ordering an immediate installation of a checkpoint station along the national highway in Barangay San Rafael,   Sto. Tomas Batangas.

The suspects aboard an Isuzu Elf truck (DXK-271) with 23 heads of hogs was supposedly bound to a slaughterhouse in Pasay City, when intercepted at the checkpoint around 8:30 p.m. A test made by Dr. Marvin Rocafort, provincial veterinary officer and Dr. Marife Arrieta,  Sto. Tomas municipal veterinary officer on the intercepted hogs found positive with hog cholera.

In an investigation made by police, the hogs were allegedly bought by Zara from a piggery farm owned by a certain Nemesio Manigbas of Barangay San Carlos, Rosario, Batangas.

The suspects are detained at the   Sto. Tomas police station while cases of violation of Republic Act 7394 or Consumer Act Law will be filed against them.