By Tracy Cabrera
(Photo from Instagram)
Health authorities should issue an advisory warning the public from buying frozen meat products, particularly chicken, from dubious sources because these food items may be part of those confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) that should have already been destroyed.
Based on information from confidential sources, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was tipped off regarding some 10 to 15 tons of smuggled chicken meat illegally being sold from a rendering facility in Santa Maria, Bulacan.
According to NBI Criminal Investigation Division executive director Raymond Macaral, they immediately organized a sting operation wherein one agent posed as a buyer and was able to procure ₱7 million worth of frozen chicken drumsticks from a female suspect.
“Bukod pa ito kasi ang balak pa nilang ibenta sa amin ay 81 tonelada, subalit ang nailabas muna ay itong mga 10 hanggang 15 toneladang nakumpiska natin,” Macaral disclosed.
“Ang binebenta po nila sa amin ay tatlong container van na galing po ito sa Bureau of Customs sa Subic, iyong for destruction,” he added.
The authorities were surprised to find out that the confiscated chicken meat came from the same BoC facility where a team from the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) seized smuggled cigarettes that were being sold illegally to the public.
Questions are now being raised as to why this is happening despite the commitment of Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno to rid the BoC of corruption and to go after and prosecute employees involved in nefarious activities such as selling contraband to consumers.
“Iisang lugar ang pinagmulan at bentahan ng mga nakumpiskang sigarilyo at frozen chicken meat. Isinagawa ito ng mga kawatan sa magkasunod na buwan,” an NBI official commented.
“Marami ang nabubuong katanungan tuloy kung paano ito nakalusot sa BoC na namam. Ito ang ahensyang dapat na mahigpit na nagbabantay habang sinisira ang nasabing frozen chicken meat,” she added.
“Ano pa ang silbi ng pagkakahuli ng BOC dito kung kalaunan ay maibabalik lamang sa merkado? Alam natin ang banta sa kalusugan ng tao ang puwedeng maidulot nito,” she continued to point out.
“Maituturing na itong double blackeye sa BoC. MAYROON nga tayong kasabihang “one is enough, two is too much” kaya dapat gampanan natin ang ating tungkulin ng may katapatan at may pagtalima sa pagbibigay proteksyon sa kapakanan ng mamamayan,” the official cited.
Efforts to reach the BoC and ask officials for a comment or reaction regarding the matter has proven futile as of press time.
