Press Release
September 6, 2011

SENATOR KIKO PANGILINAN CALLS FOR STIFFER PENALTIES OF IMPRISONMENT AND FINES FOR BOTCHA TRADERS AND SELLERS

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan hopes to put an end to what he calls the never-ending cycle of raids and seizure of botcha by authorities by imposing stiffer penalties of fine and imprisonment to those responsible for the proliferation of 'double-dead' meat in the market.

"We are looking at increasing penalties of fine from the current range of P1,000-P5,000 to P50,000-P200,000, and imprisonment of 6-12 years from the current six months being imposed. We think that these penalties are appropriate for this crime as lives are being endangered here with this unscrupulous practice," says Pangilinan.

Pangilinan, who is the Senate Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, filed Senate Bill No. 2612 on November, 2010--an act amending the meat inspection code of the Philippines prescribing penalties mentioned.

Pangilinan hopes that the stricter penalties would give the National Meat Inspection Services and police authorities much needed 'teeth' to curb the practice of trading and selling 'hot meat'.

"Kung pinaghirapan ng ating mga kababayan ang bawat piso at ultimo sentimo para lang magkaroon ng pambili ng pagkain, at pagkatapos ay mabibiktima lamang sila ng mga walang kaluluwang magbebenta ng botcha kung saan buhay mismo ng ating mga mamimili ang namemeligro, e palagay natin sapat lang ang nais nating maisapatupad sa bill na ito. Hindi biro ang ganitong gawain. Palagay natin e napapanahon na para pagbayarin ang mga ganitong klase ng mga negosyante at indibidwal."

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