Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Zyann Ambrosio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784886503863HN-Rb7Pa0AAbx5m.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The operation stemmed from an NBI-NCR cyber patrol that uncovered an account on Facebook that sells frozen meat products online at suspiciously low prices. <em>Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), in coordination with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), warns eateries, especially establishments using beef in their menu, against purchasing unusually cheap frozen meat after authorities seized around 17 metric tons of “hot meat” worth P4 million in Valenzuela City.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/4-tons-of-mishandled-undocumented-meat-seized-in-dasmari-as-0826">4 tons of mishandled, undocumented meat seized in Dasmariñas</a></div><p>The operation stemmed from an NBI-NCR cyber patrol that uncovered an account on Facebook that sells frozen meat products online at suspiciously low prices.</p><p>“Very unusual ang presyo. Kaya nag-test buy kami at ipinadala sa National Meat Inspection Service. Doon namin nalaman na hot meat ito at hindi ito ligtas kainin,” said NBI-NCR Regional Director Emeterio Dongallo Jr.</p><p>Laboratory examination by the NMIS revealed that the products advertised as beef trimmings were actually pork diaphragm mixed with beef fat to resemble beef, misleading to buyers.</p><p>Dongallo warned that once the meat is processed, it becomes almost impossible for ordinary consumers to tell the difference.</p><p>“Giniling mo ’yan, ginawa mong patty o kaya ginawa mong pares o beef mami, mahirap nang ma-distinguish kung totoong baka o hindi. Mukhang baka, amoy baka, lasa pang baka.”</p><p>Because of this, the NBI urged food establishments to carefully verify the source of the meat they purchase.</p><p>“Suriin ninyo kung saan galing ang karne. Baka pork diaphragm lang na pinagmumukhang baka para malinlang ang buyer.”</p><p>Authorities said the seized products were also classified as hot meat because they had no label, expiration dates, and country of origin, therefore unfit for human consumption.</p><p>The NBI also warned that consumers who buy cheap, unlabeled meat risk compromising their health.</p><p>“Alam namin na mura, pero baka ang makompromiso ay ang kalusugan ninyo. Bumili tayo sa lehitimong tindahan kahit medyo mas mahal kaysa magsisi kapag nagkasakit,” Dongallo said.</p><p>Following surveillance and a series of buy-bust operations in Valenzuela and Malabon, authorities arrested the warehouse operator and confiscated around 17 metric tons of frozen meat products believed to be supplying markets across Metro Manila.</p><p>The NBI said the investigation is ongoing to identify the financiers, importers, brokers, and other businesses that may have knowingly purchased and resold the illegal products.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9rtoJd2ZnpU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iMd8BVnaDqc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Laboratory examination by the NMIS revealed that the products advertised as beef trimmings were actually pork diaphragm mixed with beef fat to resemble beef, misleading to buyers.</p>

Laboratory examination by the NMIS revealed that the products advertised as beef trimmings were actually pork diaphragm mixed with beef fat to resemble beef, misleading to buyers.

'Pinagmumukhang baka': NBI warns eateries after P4-M ‘hot meat’ haul

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'Pinagmumukhang baka': NBI warns eateries after P4-M ‘hot meat’ haul

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 24, 2026 05:58 PM PHT

Read More:

hot meat

NBI

NMIS

National Bureau of Investigation

frozen meat

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