A jeep loaded with nearly a ton of bangus from a fish kill area in Sual town was intercepted by the police in Sitio Calamiong, Bonuan Gueset last Monday night.

Trader Evelyn Venancio and four others, all from Sual, are facing charges for violation of Article 12, Section 37 of the Food Safety Act of 2013, Sanitation Code, Article 40 of the Consumer Act of the Philippines and Section 73 of the Fisheries Code of Dagupan City.

Dr. Ophelia Rivera, city health officer, said they may suffer penalties not lower than P50,000 plus jail time.

In an interview with Venancio, she said the main haul was supposed to be delivered to Villasis but a late order for 300 kilos made her take a side trip to Dagupan City.

An alert call to the police from a concerned citizen resulted in the interception and seizure of the bangus cargo.

Fish inspectors from the City Agriculture Office, and Dr. Rivera herself confirmed that the fish were from a fish kill.

“Maputi yung hasang ng bangus. So evidence iyon ng oxygen depletion. Tapos yung mata ng bangus hindi dapat namumula. Nakaumbok din ang mata kapag sariwa”, she said.

Rivera said that fresh fish has its scales intact. “Hindi rin dapat lamog yung laman ng isda kapag pipislin”, she added.

Venancio admitted with with a capital of P25 per kilogram, she had hoped to sell it up to P40.

Rivera warned the public against consuming bangus that died from fish kill because it can cause food poisoning. (Ahikam Pasion)

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