LEGAZPI CITY – Authorities confiscated some 150 kilos of “hot meat,” valued at P33,000, in a village flea market here early Tuesday morning.
Dr. Nancy Andes, head of Legazpi City Veterinary, said the pork meat was on display at the talipapa when a team from their office conducted the surprise visit around 4:30 a.m. in Barangay Arimbay.
Andes said confiscated pork meat had no markings such stamp or seal to indicate that it was butchered in the city’s abattoir, and thus, deemed as “hot meat.”
The vendor of the seized pork meat was not arrested for being a first time violator, but was reprimanded and warned by officials.
A team for the city veterinary office conducts surprise rounds of markets in the city to make sure that only meat butchered at the city’s abattoir are being sold to the public.
Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said that they have established a Class “AA” slaughterhouse to meet the requirement of the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS). /kga