200 kg tainted bangus seized in predawn market 'raids'

At least 200 kilos of bangus (milkfish) believed to be from areas affected by a fish kill in Pangasinan and Batangas were seized in a series of predawn "raids" in Quezon City Sunday. But the teams from the Quezon City veterinary office failed to make arrests as the vendors fled when they saw the authorities, radio dzBB's Paulo Santos said. City veterinarian Dr. Ana Marie Cabel said they raided five markets in the city's Novaliches district around 5 a.m. She cited initial reports indicating the vendors tried to mix the tainted fish with fresher ones. An initial investigation also showed the tainted fish was not fit for human consumption as the scales appeared to be shedding. Cabel said the seized fish was to be buried, even as she stressed the raids will continue. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday night said seven towns in Batangas had already been placed under a state of calamity due to the fish kill. In its 6 p.m. Saturday report, the NDRRMC also said the fish kill in Batangas affected at least 350 fish cages owned by 23 fish cage operators, with damage estimated at P142.530 million. — LBG, GMA News