250 kilos of tainted pork seized in Manila; 1 arrested

Authorities seized 250 kilos of “botcha" or double-dead (tainted) pork loaded aboard a semi-stainless pickup in Manila’s Paco district before dawn Tuesday. City veterinary inspection teams arrested the helper of the pickup even as the driver managed to elude arrest, radio dzBB’s Manny Vargas reported. It was the third seizure of tainted meat in one week, and the second in the last two days. On Monday, 400 kilos of tainted meat aboard a pedicab were seized in Divisoria. The pickup (CRD-791), allegedly from Pulilan town in Bulacan province, was spotted at about 1 a.m. along Paz Street in Paco, Manila. An initial investigation showed the meat was to be taken to Paco Market. While the driver of the pickup managed to escape, the team arrested one Richard Cruz, 18, the driver’s helper. Authorities said they expect to make more seizures as the Christmas season draws closer, due to the expected rise in demand for meat during the season. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources intercepted two tons of illegally caught fish in Manila, according to a separate report on dzBB. The report said the fish was aboard a boat that docked at Del Pan in Manila. The fish supposedly came from Palawan province but there were signs they were caught via dynamite fishing. — RSJ, GMA News