SENATOR KIKO PANGILINAN CALLS FOR THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS WITH THE ARREST OF 'BOTCHA' DEALERS AND SUPPLIERS

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today calls on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation on the proliferation of 'double dead' meat in the market and arrest those responsible.

"The National Meat Inspection Service cannot simply go on a cycle of raids and seizure. That will not solve the problem. We urge the PNP, DTI, DOH, DA, and NMIS to work together and clamp down on the proliferation of tainted meat, especially now that the Christmas season is around the corner."

The NMIS today says that they have identified five provinces as sources of tainted meat, namely Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. They are then being dumped in Balintawak market.

"With the information the NMIS now have, they can report these to the authorities so that those responsible may be brought to justice."

Pangilinan, who is the senate chairman of the committee on agriculture, says he will review the provisions of the law against unscrupulous traders and introduce amendments if necessary so that sanctions will be heavier.

"We need to protect our countrymen from these unscrupulous traders. Lives are at risk here. We ought to provide stricter measures against the distribution of tainted meat especially now that demand for meat will go up during the holiday season. We must ensure that consumers' lives and their hard earned money are protected from heartless traders."