One of the 40 pig carcasses found floating in the Marikina River. Photo from Marikina City Veterinary Services Office.
MANILA, Philippines — The government of Marikina has ordered the dispatch of a “search party” to trace the source of the pig carcasses found floating in the city’s river.
Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said he would want those responsible for dumping 40 pig carcasses in the Marikina River, to be held liable.
“Para hindi na maulit, dapat ay may managot. Dapat proper disposal. Hindi puwedeng walang mananagot, dapat may managot,” Teodoro said in a statement on Friday.
“May proper disposal na dapat sundin para walang possible contamination,” he added.
On Thursday, the Marikina City Veterinary Services Office (VSO) buried the dead pigs 10 feet below the ground to “ensure that possible diseases brought by the dead pigs will not spread.”
READ: More dead pigs found, this time in Marikina City
VSO chief Dr. Manuel Carlos said they are working with the Bureau of Animal Industry to get blood samples taken from the carcasses tested to determine if the pigs were killed by the African Swine Fever (ASF).
Teodoro meanwhile ordered a ban on fishing and other water-related activities in the Marikina River as authorities are still checking on the quality of water as well as determining possible contamination.
“We are checking if may river contamination. We are checking the water quality para mapangalagaan ang well-being ng Marikina residents,” Teodoro said.
Carlos said it is possible that the pig carcasses found floating in the Marikina River could transmit diseases.
The Department of Agriculture previously said that it was monitoring areas in the country where there were recorded deaths of pigs to block the spread of ASF. /muf
READ: DA monitoring other areas to prevent spread of African swine fever