MANILA, Philippines?Authorities confiscated over 1,200 kilos of ?double-dead? meat, locally known as ?botcha,? when they swooped down on a busy market in Quezon City before dawn Tuesday, the city police chief said.

Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said the illegal meat was confiscated from several vendors at the Balintawak Market. Authorities also arrested two vendors, identified as Rose Garcia, 30, and Raymund Roxas, 26.

Mantele said that at about 2:30 a.m., police together with the representatives from the city health department confiscated some 400 kilos of ?double-dead? meat?the flesh of dead hogs or cattle put up for sale.

More than an hour later, the operatives received a tip that a bigger volume of ?botcha? was to be brought to the area. Mantele said the information led to the discovery of another 800 kilos of the illegal meat, found inside a white Mitsubishi vehicle parked at the Caltex Station in Edsa Balintawak. The discovery of the meat also led to the arrest of Garcia.

Later at 5:45 a.m., police seized another 20 kilos of ?botcha? from Roxas.

Mantele reminded the public to be vigilant against unscrupulous traders selling meat unfit for human consumption, not only in the Balintawak market but in other markets as well.

He added that consumers should be particularly suspicious of meat sold at low prices, especially on sidewalks, and about meat that do not have the indelible blue stamp of the meat inspection office.

??Botcha? is usually identifiable by its grayish or pale color, or by the artificial coloring used to make it look fresh. I urge everyone who has information about ?botcha? to immediately call the nearest police station so we can promptly arrest the offenders,? Mantele said.