In an impromptu press conference on the sidelines of the Visioning Pampanga workshop at Max’s Restaurant here Monday, Lacson said the local government decided to auction off the hogs after concerns were raised on who would loom after the livestock with the arrest of the overseers at the piggery which fronted for the shabu laboratory.
Soon after the raid by the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Lacson said some of the hogs began to show signs of sickness as assessed by the veterinarian tasked by the municipal government.
It was not a unilateral decision to sell the hogs, Lacson claimed.
“We also consulted with our COA (Commission on Audit) and obtained a legal opinion from the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) on how to proceed,” Lacson said.
“But the health of the residents was the primordial concern,” Lacson said, as they feared of an ammonia buildup from the piggery farm since there were no longer workers to maintain the facility.
The mayor disclosed that proceeds from the auction of the hogs amounted to P7-million. She added that they have made “manifestations to abide by the decision of the court on were the proceeds will go.” The money is currently under the trust fund of the municipality.
In the raid of the piggery farm in San Ildefonso, Magalang last Sept. 5, the PDEA discovered 20 kilograms of ephedrine, 468 grams of methamphetamine and assorted equipment in an underground shabu laboratory and arrested six Chinese nationals for violations of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act).
