SOME 28 tons of “hot meat” worth P10 million were incirenated Monday at a private waste management disposal facility in Barangay Mitla, Porac, Pampanga.
The operation was led by Isagani Julius S. Rodrigo, Senior Meat Control Officer of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) in Central Luzon.
Aside from NMIS, officials from the regional offices of the Bureau of Animal Industry and PNP Highway Patrol Unit witnessed the incirenation of the “seize contraband” which were directly imported from Brazil.
A report from the office of Police Colonel Sally Mangacop, regional commander of PNP Highway Patrol Unit in Central Luzon said the contraband were intercepted by his men while conducting an anti-carnapping operation along Governor Fortunato Halili Road in Sta. Maria, Bulacan at about 10 a.m. last Saturday.
Police team manning the checkpoint flagged down three refrigerated Isuzu vans for inspection. Immediately, the eight occupants including the drivers were held for custody after they failed to show to the authorities legal documents of the three vehicles including travel pass going to their destination.
In the absence of legal documents the police team decided to open the “freezer trucks” and discovered imported and boneless pork legs and hinds neatly placed in a box with markings “Sadia” and “imported to the Philippines”.
After the seizure of the undocumented “hot meat” the NMIS ordered the police team to bring the three refrigerated vans to Degama Waste Management Services for proper disposal.
“We immediately proceed for the incirenation of the confiscated meat because it will be hazardous to people’s health if consumed as the meat started to exhumes bad odor”, Rodrigo told reporters.
He said Digama Waste Management Services heades by its President Robert Gaza, operates a specialized waste disposal facility in Porac, Pampanga, frequently serving as a primary hub for destroying confiscated, illegal, or hazardous materials. They utilize industrial incinerators and shredding machines for high-volume waste destruction, including illicit cigarettes and condemned food products, and have engaged in community donation activities.
Mangacop said the drivers and helpers of the three refrigerated vans are now detained at the jail facility in Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando, Pampanga after proper charges were filed against them in court.
He said three vans are also under their custody while conducting a thorough investigation of the case. The registered owners of the two of three “freezer vans” were identified as Gerardo Eleazar and Soloman Jover.
Asked by reporters during an interview as to where the imported “hot meat” came from, he said the drivers of the trucks claimed that it came from a certain Alee Storage Facility in Bulacan. (UnliNews Online)
