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By James Konstantin Galvez Reporter
AUTHORITIES apprehended at least
10 tons of “hot” processed meat being unloaded from a container
van in Pasay City on Wednesday as part of the city’s campaign
against the proliferation of hot meat in the city’s public
markets.
Dr. Rodolfo Bernasor, city
veterinarian, said that they confiscated 10 tons of “hot” ham,
salami, and bacon on Wednesday morning along Park Avenue where
workers unloaded the products from a 20-foot container van with
plate number CVZ 494.
In a routine operation, his men
checked the van’s contents and were met with a bad smell,
prompting them to inspect the rest of the goods inside.
“The ham may have already been
spoiled, that’s why the smell is bad,” Bernasor said, adding
that the driver of the van failed to show the necessary documents
for the items.
Bernasor suspected the ham might
have been smuggled into the country to be sold during the holidays.
Police Senior Insp. Carlos
Ogalinola, chief of the City Hall Detachment, said they received
information that contraband items would be arriving in the city
after being shipped from Davao.
Ogalinola said that upon receipt
of the information, he formed a team composed of PO3 Geraldo
Navarro, PO2 Jonathan Bayoy and PO1 Dennis Gaw along with personnel
from the veterinary office headed by Bernasor to intercept the
smuggled items.
The official said they also
invited for questioning the van’s driver identified as Eric Ravela,
24 of Lakandula Street, Tondo, Manila and his helper, Edison Balan,
31, of Carlos Garcia Street, Tondo, Manila.
But a certain Susan Co who latter
claimed ownership of the seized items denied the veterinary’s
office claim that the products were already spoiled, saying they
have yet to be processed. She added this might have caused the bad
smell and that the processed meat was not smuggled as it came from
Davao.
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