SEIZED. Manila authorities confiscate 302 boxes or 6,040 kilos of smuggled pork belly from Germany in Tondo District on Tuesday (April 27, 2021). The Manila Bureau of Permits also discovered the owner does not have a permit or registered business name. (Photo courtesy of Manila-PIO)
MANILA – Boxes of imported pork belly smuggled into the country were confiscated by the Manila Veterinary Inspection Board (VIB) on Tuesday.
VIB Director Nick Santos said in a statement issued on Tuesday that 302 boxes of pork meat from Germany, with an estimated cost of PHP1.5 million, were seized from the house of a certain Jonabel Jalimao Factor, along Jose Abad Santos Ave. in Tondo, Manila.
Factor’s house was found to have its own cold storage facility where the 6,040 kilos of smuggled pork products were stored.
Manila Bureau of Permits Director Levi Facundo said Factor claimed his business is registered as Gou Ren Han Food products.
Upon verification, the business name does not exist and has no record in Manila.
"Wala 'yung name na yan. Walang record sa name na Gou Ren Han or the name of the wife (There is no such name. We do not have a record under the name of Gou Ren Han or even the name of his wife)," Facundo said.
Facundo emphasized that even home-based businesses still require a permit.
The permits office and the VIB are coordinating on the charges to be filed against Factor. (PNA)
