SOME 300 kilos of spoiled milkfish called “gataw” deemed unfit for consumption were seized from four fish vendors at the Magsaysay Fish Market in Dagupan City at about 8:00 a.m. on Friday (September 14).

Investigation showed that the spoiled milkfish died from a massive fish kill that reportedly happened in Sual town and these were discovered during a routine sanitary inspection conducted by market inspectors of the Dagupan City government.

The police identified the vendors that were selling the stale bangus as Mena Villanueva old , 42, of Barangay Lomboy, from whom 25 kilos were seized; Napoleon Ocumen, 36, of Bonuan Gueset, who yielded 36 kilos; and Orie Monsalud, 62, of Lomboy, who was caught in possession of 44 kilos; and Rogelio Espanol, who managed to escape and abandoned 195 kilos.
The spoiled milkfish that were contained in several “banyeras” were discovered by sanitary inspector Armenia Claveria and Sherwin Ubando, a member of the city’s Task Force Bantay Dagat, in their early morning inspection of the Dagupan City Fish Market and immediately reported the matter to Mayor Belen Fernandez.

Fernandez learned from the arrested vendors that the spoiled  milkfish came from Sual town and delivered to Dagupan by a truck that unloaded its cargo at still undisclosed place in Dagupan. From there, the stock was brought to the Magsaysay Fish Market by push carts.

The fish ‘kargadors’ will also be investigated for complicity with traders who brought the fish cargo to Dagupan.

Fernandez ordered the City Agriculture Office to endorse the three arrested vendors to the Dagupan City police so cases can be filed against them and also alerted all checkpoints leading to Dagupan City fish market to maintain their guard 24/7 to protect consumers in the city. (Leonardo Micua)

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