By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least 27 kilograms worth of ‘hot meat,’ which refers to meat that was illegally slaughtered, was seized by members of Bacolod City’s Task Force Botagoy at the city’s Burgos Public Market earlier this week.
Task force head Edward Martin Pinaga said they believe the seized pork products were imported and displayed by a butcher shop despite emitting a foul odor.
He noted, since the meat products were imported, it should not be removed from the freezer in order to avoid it from spoiling.
The seized products have since been brought to the city’s slaughterhouse in Barangay Handumanan and immediately buried.
Pinaga added, they are strictly carrying out meat inspections at city markets due to the ongoing threat posed by the African swine fever.
Earlier this week, the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office was placed on heightened alert after the Department of Agriculture confirmed hog samples from pig farms in Luzon tested positive for African swine fever.
The veterinary office also released an order last month ordering the removal of Chinese pork products from major grocery stores in Bacolod City. Among the brands ordered to be removed from market shelves include Narcissus, Heaven Temple, Ma Ling, Shabu Shabu, Sol Primo, Wang Taste of Korea, Highway, Sky Dragon, and Weilin.
In addition, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson urged Negrenses to avoid bringing in pork originating from outside the province./DGB, WDJ