MANILA, Philippines -- Some 400 kilos of "hot" meat apparently from Bulacan was seized in Manila around midnight Monday before it could be dumped in Divisoria's markets.

However, the suspects were able to escape, said Dr. Hector Dimaculangan, assistant team leader of Manila's Veterinary Inspection Board (VIB) meat squad.

City administrator Jay Marzan said the van, carrying 430 kilos of contraband “double-dead” pork was intercepted by the VIB at C. Planas Street in Manila’s Tondo district through an informant's tip.

Double-dead or hot meat, or meat from already dead animals, is considered harmful to consumers' health since the animals most likely died from illnesses before being butchered and sold.

Dimaculangan said the confiscated meat would have been delivered to the Ilaya market and consumed by unsuspecting buyers.

Buyers of "hot" meat from farms shell out only P30-40 per kilo but sell this in markets for P80-P90 per kilo.