The Department of Agriculture (DA), backed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – Philippine National Police (CIDG-PNP), raided the Solid Sea Products cold storage warehouses in Navotas City on Thursday, December 11, uncovering piles of frozen agricultural and fishery products allegedly kept in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said earlier inspections by BFAR, NMIS, and DA’s Inspectorate and Enforcement found meat and fishery products “commingling in the same cold rooms,” a practice he warned could trigger “dangerous cross-contamination from harmful bacteria.”
The Presiding Judge of the Navotas Regional Trial Court issued two Search Warrants for the two cold storage facilities.
We thank our partner Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by NCR Regional Chief Police Colonel John K. Guiagui, PMaj Bryan A. Salveron and his team for the assistance, together with the DA Inspectorate and Enforcement led by Assistant Secretary Willie Ann M. Angsiy.
CIDG, officers discovered “voluminous assorted frozen meat and agri-fishery products” stored throughout the facility. All items were photographed and documented in the presence of warehouse and barangay personnel.
Solid Sea is yet to produce the required documents for the frozen goods despite being given ample time to do so.
The CIDG, assisted by the DA, applied for a search warrant for violations of the Food Safety Act of 2013, which we have now served,” Tiu Laurel said.
He added that Solid Sea is also being investigated for possible violations of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which carries heavier penalties and longer prison terms, if found out that the value of the frozen agri fishery goods exceeds the threshold amount of P10 million.
A report by the DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), one of the agencies that inspected the facility, described numerous violations of the Food Safety Act, including the mixing of processed and unprocessed fish and meat products; unsanitary conditions such as unpacked items, wooden pallets, foul odors, and poor hygiene practices; and the storage of expired fishery commodities. Inspectors found frozen yellow croaker, Pangasius fillet, and half-shell scallops.
Meanwhile, the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) reported finding frozen processed meats and aquamarine products—many already expired—including pork trotters, loin, intestines, ribs, collar, spare ribs, suckling pigs, chicken breasts, goose, and duck wings.
Secretary Tiu Laurel said the operation was necessary to safeguard consumers, protect public and animal health, and prevent illegal trade practices that hurt local producers.
“We need to make sure that both our consumers and food producers are protected from these injurious acts,” he said. ### (By DA – OSEC Comms & photo by Gian Carlo Luague, AFID)
