Cebu City Authorities Shut Down Illegal Slaughterhouse During Sinulog Festival
In a significant crackdown on food safety violations, the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) and police operatives conducted a joint raid on an unlicensed slaughterhouse in Barangay San Nicolas Proper, Cebu City. The operation took place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, coinciding with the bustling Sinulog Festival, a period of high public activity and consumption.
Massive Confiscation of Pork Products
During the coordinated "hot meat" operation, authorities seized a substantial amount of contraband. This included over 100 kilograms of pork carcasses and 40 kilograms of offals, which refer to the internal organs and other parts of butchered animals. The raid was part of a broader, city-wide initiative aimed at ensuring food safety and compliance with regulations during the holiday season, when demand for meat products typically surges.
Legal Violations and Public Health Concerns
The illegal facility was found to be in direct violation of multiple laws. Specifically, it breached Cebu City Ordinance 2189, which requires proper inspection, sanitation, and documentation for all meat sold within the city. This ordinance mandates that vendors, including those selling lechon and barbecue, must possess valid permits. Additionally, the slaughterhouse contravened Republic Act (RA) 8485, as amended by RA 10631, known as the Animal Welfare Act. Issues noted during the raid included unhygienic slaughter practices and improper handling of carcasses and by-products, raising serious public health alarms.
DVMF Officer-in-Charge Jessica Maribojoc emphasized the critical importance of adhering to these laws in a phone interview with SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, January 20. "Our concern here is food safety," she stated, highlighting the risks associated with such illegal operations.
Risks Posed by Unaccredited Slaughterhouses
Illegal or unaccredited slaughterhouses pose a significant public health risk, as illnesses from hogs can be transmitted to humans, according to Maribojoc. To mitigate these dangers, DVMF inspectors conduct thorough ante-mortem and post-mortem checks before any products are displayed in public markets and supermarkets. Consumers are advised to exercise their right to request a meat inspection certificate before purchasing, ensuring that the time elapsed since slaughter does not exceed eight hours.
Among the requirements for vendors is obtaining a health card issued by the DVMF, which ensures that handlers are free from communicable diseases such as tuberculosis. Maribojoc urged the public to be vigilant when selecting meat, advising that it should be free of any unpleasant odors and should not appear greenish or slimy. For imported meat, she noted that it must possess a Certificate of Meat Importation and should consistently be kept frozen in the chiller to maintain safety standards.
