Operatives confiscated three cattle in a private slaughterhouse in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City. More on this shortly | Tonee Despojo
CATTLE sellers have found a detestable way to earn extra profit. Waterflooding.
This is the process of forcefully pumping water into the mouth or anus of live cattle such as cows to increase their weight before they are slaughtered.
Yesterday, personnel from the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) raided a private abattoir in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City after receiving a tip on Tuesday that waterflooding was being practiced in the facility.
Arrested were the alleged owners of the private slaughterhouse identified as Merly Survilla, Boy Dahunan, and Jun Cola.
Cebu City Veterinarian Alice Utlang told Cebu Daily News that the three could face a fine of not less than P5,000 and not more than P10,000 for violating the Animal Welfare Act, the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and City Ordinance No. 2080.
Utlang, in a message through her Facebook page, also informed that her office has issued the slaughterhouse a citation ticket.
She said that the raiding team also confiscated five cows about to be slaughtered and all bloated.
Three of the cows, she said, had already died while the other two looked very weak but survived.
“Ug ganiha ila (raiding team) gyud naaktuhan nga naghigda na ang five ka baka ug burot ang tiyan tungod tingali sa tubig,” said Utlang.
(They saw five cows lying on the pavement. Their stomachs are bloated maybe due to the water).
Utlang said the water inside the animals’ body would make them heavier before being sold to the markets.
In this way, she added, sellers can gain additional profit. /STC Intern Candy Morr Baraga