Santiago City: The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has confiscated recycled, unregistered, and adulterated cooking oil worth PHP3.5 million and arrested three individuals in Isabela province. The suspects were identified as Bonaleth, the owner and manager of NB Cooking Oil Trading; Catherine, a cashier; and John, a delivery worker.

According to Philippines News Agency, CIDG agents apprehended the trio for selling, manufacturing, distributing, and offering for sale recycled, unlabeled, unregistered, and adulterated cooking oil products in Barangay Buenavista, Santiago City on February 26. The authorities seized 173 gallons of cooking oil, mounted storage, a digital weighing scale, a funnel, one closed van, and a 10-wheeler tanker truck marked "NB Cooking Oil."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) North Luzon Cluster has sealed the warehouse due to non-compliance with laws and regulations. The suspects face charges before the National Prosecution Service for violating Section 11(K) of Republic Act 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009) for selling unregistered or misbranded health products; RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) for false labeling and unsafe goods; and RA 10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013) for violating food safety standards and selling adulterated or misbranded products.

CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III emphasized the government's responsibility to protect and promote public health. He assured that the CIDG is committed to enforcing the laws to protect consumers from the risks posed by unregistered, misbranded, or unsafe food products. Torre urged the public to remain vigilant by checking labels, FDA registration, and safety compliance, and to report criminal activities and illegal trade practices to the CIDG.