GOV. Aris Aumentado has made his commitment true to press charges to those who violate Provincial Ordinance No. 2022-11, banning the carrying of pork meat and pork products into the province as a measure against the entry of virus that caused the African Swine Fever (ASF).
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay and Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz officially filed on August 11, 2023 a complaint against barangay chair Epifanio Balbin and his wife, Sol Balbin, of barangay Centro, Tubigon, Bohol before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court, according to Capitol press statement.
The Balbin couple is charged with violation of section 3.1 of the said Provincial Ordinance No. 2022-011.
The couple were found to have brought with them two boxes with contents: chorizo, pork blood, pork chop and pork mascara (skin of pork head) from Mandaue City, Cebu to Tubigon port while onboard with M/V Lite Ferry 23 on June 13, 2023.
This came after Provincial Veterinary Quarantine Officer Dr. Maria Abisado of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) noticed the said cargoes, which were then confiscated after discovering that they contained banned pork meat and processed pork meat.
Quarantine inspectors Arvin Boncales, Joel Quidlat and Raul Balo immediately did the seizure of the said cargoes.
Thereafter, a Notice of Violation was then issued but the barangay captain immediately left the port and reportedly refused to sign the Notice of Violation and pay the penalty of P1,000.00.
The governor was quoted as saying that “Insulto pud kaayo nga makadungog ko nga usa ka barangay nga opisyal ang involve knowing nga kani sila naay saktong information sa ASF. Ayaw gyud ni palabya Atty. Lagunay aron mahatagan nato sila og leksyon.”
(It’s an insult to know that there’s a barangay official who is supposed to implement the law. Don’t miss Atty. to file a case against the said barangay captain to give them lesson.
“Governor Aumentado has consistently emphasized compliance with the ASF prevention ordinance since the start of his administration. He expressed disappointment at the involvement of barangay officials who possess knowledge of ASF risks. Governor Aumentado urged strong legal action to deter future violations,” the statement said.
Lagunay, earlier, said his office won’t hesitate to press charges against anyone who breach the ordinance on banning pork meat products from ASF-infected areas that the possibility of virus to infect hog industry here may not be remote.
Lagunay added that if Bohol is infected with the ASF virus it has a big impact on the P6-bilion hog industry, affecting over 48,000 raisers. (rvo)
