Presidential anti-smuggling group warns on possible outbreak of Avian Flu in RP

Malacanang warned today against possible outbreak of the deadly Avian Flu if exotic fowl meat from other Asian countries continued flooding the local market due to corruption in the Bureau of Customs.

Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) Head Usec. Antonio A. Villar, Jr. said that thousands of frozen Peking ducks seized from a warehouse in Navotas last week did not pass through strict inspection by local veterinary authorities.

“The public health is at stake here. We are still trying to track down where the other bulk of the frozen fowls were distributed. The Bureau of Customs should not be lax in this matter. The seized Peking ducks were taken out of the BOC without one of its officials knowing it,” Villar said.

Villar realized the gravity of the situation when the only local raiser and licensed supplier of Peking ducks in the country belied claims by the lawyer of the raided Navotas warehouse that their stock of Peking ducks were locally produced.

The deadly virus which originated from Asia killed thousands of people a few years ago, prompting Asian authorities to plug some loopholes in the raising and exportation of exotic fowl meat including the world famous Peking duck.

Michael Exequiel J. Guillermo, Vice President of the EJG Mighty Duck Farm, the sole producer and supplier of Peking duck in the country, said the seized frozen Peking ducks from the warehouse of Chinese couple Wily and Marietta Lu did not come from EJG and that chances are they being smuggled may have not passed inspection by authorities from the country of origin.

As this developed, Villar ordered his men to coordinate with the local authorities concerned to check on the stock of Peking ducks of some restaurants serving this exotic meat. OPS/pinoypress.net