7 arrested, P5.5-M illegal cooking oil seized in Bukidnon

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — Authorities arrested seven individuals and seized an estimated P5.5 million worth of allegedly adulterated, unlabeled, and unregistered cooking oil during simultaneous enforcement operations in Valencia City on June 18.

Operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), in coordination with personnel from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), conducted raids on a warehouse and a sari-sari store in Barangay Poblacion, resulting in the confiscation of thousands of liters of cooking oil allegedly being sold and distributed without the required permits and registrations.

According to CIDG, four suspects were arrested at the store and three others at the warehouse. All are legal-age residents of Bukidnon.

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Authorities said the suspects were allegedly involved in the sale and distribution of recycled, adulterated, unlabeled, and unregistered cooking oil in violation of Republic Act No. 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and Republic Act No. 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013.

Seized from the warehouse were a storage tank containing approximately 15,000 liters of cooking oil, 1,478 gallons, and 355 repacked plastic containers, with a total estimated value of P4.3 million.

Additional enforcement operations led to the confiscation of two tanks containing about 9,700 liters of cooking oil, 100 containers with 15 liters each, and 175 repacked plastic containers valued at around P1.2 million.

Investigators said the warehouse and storage facilities had no certificate, permit, or license to operate issued by the FDA.

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CIDG officials emphasized that the manufacture, sale, distribution, and transfer of food products without FDA registration and authorization are prohibited under the law.

Authorities warned that unregistered food products have not undergone FDA evaluation, making their quality and safety uncertain and potentially hazardous to consumers.

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The CIDG urged the public to remain vigilant when purchasing food products and to report suspicious activities involving consumer goods to authorities. /jpv

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