7,000 kilos of processed meat seized in Catanduanes

LEGAZPI CITY — Authorities confiscated 7,000 kilograms of processed meat products at the Virac Port in Catanduanes province on Saturday afternoon.

Major Bon Billy Timuat, chief of Virac police, said the meat products that came in a 10-wheeler container van from Cavite was worth P700,000 and were immediately burned and disposed. The labels were reportedly tampered to conceal the information showing pork as one of the main ingredients.

Timuat said the container van was intercepted by the Philippine Coast Guard at around 3 p.m.

“The products were documented but the packaging was tampered,” he said.

In February, Acting Governor Shirley Abundo has ordered a temporary ban on the entry of live pigs and pork products from other provinces as a precautionary measure against African swine fever.