Nelson Morales

Article (news)

Illegal dog meat processing ops busted; 5 Vietnamese arrested

Zyann Ambrosio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Authorities on Tuesday uncovered and shut down an illegal dog meat processing and online selling operation allegedly run by Vietnamese nationals following a joint entrapment operation in Pasay and Makati.The operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) stemmed from reports about the sale of so-called “hot meat” being distributed through online platforms.NBI Director Melvin Matibag said operatives first conducted test-buy operations after receiving complaints.“Meron kasi kami natanggap na report na may nagtitinda ng hot meat. Nagkaroon kami ng asset na bumili at nag-deliver sila. Sa pangalawang test buy, doon na hinuli ng mga operatives namin yung delivery,” Matibag said.<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2031294800570515735&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-03-11T05%3A43%3A42.141648%3A32a9fe5f-5857-4233-b4ea-f1e4a9d29d01%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=72fe153aea385e64e7e6f61354391fa8429b523d&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:316px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2031294800570515735"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script>Following the arrest of the delivery rider, authorities traced the source of the meat to a processing site in Makati where investigators discovered dog meat being prepared for sale.“Nakita na doon pala pino-process ang aso—dog meat na binibenta nila,” he added.Prior to the enforcement operation, the NBI had also submitted meat samples to the NMIS laboratory for species verification.NMIS Executive Director Dr. Fernando Lontoc said laboratory analysis using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) confirmed that the meat came from a dog.“Kumuha muna kami ng mga 50 grams na sample at dinaan natin sa PCR. Dito nalalaman kung ano ang species ng karne, at lumabas nga na ito ay aso,” Lontoc  said.With the laboratory confirmation, NBI and NMIS coordinated a joint operation deploying teams to Pasay and Makati to identify individuals allegedly selling the meat online. When a rider arrived to pick up an order, NBI agents moved in and arrested the suspects while NMIS personnel conducted on-site inspection and sample verification.Authorities also confirmed that five Vietnamese nationals were arrested during the operation.Meanwhile, the Makati LGU emphasized that the activity violates existing city ordinances strictly prohibiting the dog meat trade.Marines Lagarto of the Makati Veterinary Service Department said the incident violates both the Makati Animal Regulation and Control Code and the Makati City Meat Inspection Code.“Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal sa Makati ang dog meat trade, ang pagkain ng karne ng aso, at ang pagkatay sa aso. Ang ganitong gawain ay malinaw na paglabag sa dalawang ordinansa ng lungsod,” Lagarto said.Lagarto explained that the operation initially went undetected because the suspects were not operating as a registered food establishment subject to routine inspections.“Hindi sila nag-ooperate bilang food stall o restaurant kaya hindi sila kabilang sa mga establisyimentong regular naming iniinspeksyon. Kung makikita ninyo, parang underground ang kanilang operasyon — parang multi-surface at tatlong layer ang pagtatago ng kanilang gawain,” Lagarto added.Matibag also stressed that the killing and sale of dog meat is illegal in the Philippines due to both public health risks and animal cruelty concerns.“Bawal ang pagpatay, pagkatay at pagbibenta ng aso dito sa atin dahil sa health issues at cruelty to animals,” Matibag said.Authorities warned that illegally processed meat poses serious health risks to consumers.“May health issues dito dahil hindi dumaan sa tamang proseso. Maaaring may rabies o sakit ang aso at maibenta pa rin ito sa mga mamimili,” Matibag said.The NBI is also coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration regarding the immigration status of the suspects, who may face deportation after the filing of appropriate criminal charges.Matibag stressed that foreign nationals must respect Philippine laws while staying in the country.“Hindi natin papayagan na ang mga batas natin dito sa bansa ay lalabagin ng mga dayuhan,”  he added.The NBI is still conducting an investigation to identify other individuals involved in the illegal dog meat trade and determine the possible source of the dogs used in the operation.

Authorities on Tuesday uncovered and shut down an illegal dog meat processing and online selling operation allegedly run by Vietnamese nationals following a joint entrapment operation in Pasay and Makati.

Authorities on Tuesday uncovered and shut down an illegal dog meat processing and online selling operation allegedly run by Vietnamese nationals following a joint entrapment operation in Pasay and Makati.