Tuna smothered with pork’s blood enrages Muslim community in Davao

DAVAO CITY – Muslims here are up in arms over about the recent discovery by the Office of the City Veterinary Office (CVO) of an attempt to sell tuna that is laced with pig’s blood in public markets in the areas of Matina Aplaya, Puan and Toril, which have considerable Muslim populations.

The consumption of pig’s blood and flesh is strictly prohibited under Islam.

CVO assistant Esther Cherri Rayos confirmed that 70.5 kilos of tuna smothered with swine blood were about to sold in these public markets, together with four tons of chicken meat, during an inspection conducted Saturday by the agency.

According to Reyes, the confiscated tuna was no longer fresh but unscrupulous vendors tried to smother it with pig’s blood to make it look “red and fresh.”

Reports about the confiscation of the tainted tuna enraged Muslim groups here with Ulama League of the Philippines (ULP) regional chairman Mahmod Mala L. Adilao decrying the practice as a blatant affront to the Muslim religion.

Carmelito Francisco, a Muslim and managing editor of local daily Mindanao Times, said those responsible for trying to sell the tainted tuna should be held responsible for “disrespecting the Muslim people.”

“Nakaloko sila sa mga Muslims and they are ignorant of Halal, a Muslim law prescribed to any meat preparation,” Francisco said.

Rayos said that, in the past, vendors used to smother the tuna with red dye and not pork’s blood.

“They are now more daring in using pig’s blood. We cannot compromise the health of the people and, besides, there are religions that forbid eating pork, more so pig’s blood,” she said.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is now awaiting the result of an investigation he ordered, afterwhich, the filing of appropriate charges against all those responsible for the malpractice will be made.

“These people should be charged and imprisoned,” Duterte pointed out as he ordered the CVO to look for more forms of deceits defined under the Revised Penal Code that can be used to charge the vendors.

The mayor added that these vendors must answer for violating the sensibilities of the Muslim residents in the city.