The City Health Office disproved the Facebook post regarding siomai products in the city allegedly containing dog meat.
CHO-Tagum clarified on their Facebook post on Tuesday, March 5, that the “dog meat-siomai” claim is baseless and untrue.
“Please be advised that the circulating news about the siomai products containing dog meat is not validated. There have been no reports or complaints about these products from the public or any other agencies,” Dr. Arnel Florendo, health office chief said in the post.
Florendo warned residents to be cautious and refrain from spreading fake news on social media as it could affect livelihoods and cause panic.
CHO issued the statement after a now deleted post from TAGUM Updated Facebook page on March 2, drew reactions from Tagumenyos.
“SUPPLIER SA MGA SIOMAI UG UBAN PANG STREET FOODS SA TAGUM CITY, NAHIBAW-AN NGA GIKAN DIAY SA KARNE SA IRO! (Supplier of siomai and other street foods in Tagum City, found to be sourced from dog meat),” the photo card reads.
“More details to follow apil na ang result sa laboratory nga amo gipaconduct gikan sa pipila ka samples nga nakuha namo! (More details will follow including the laboratory results from the samples we acquired),” the post added.
Siomai is a traditional Chinese dumpling that contains pork, chicken, and beef meat wrapped in a dough that is usually cooked through steaming or frying.
Following the incident, city mayor Rey Uy lambasted the spreader of fake news as irresponsible and inconsiderate to street vendors, especially the ambulant.
“Laliman ka, kadaghang nanginabuhi anang namaligya og siomai, kining mga gagmayg negosyante, unya ana-on (dauton) nila?,” Uy said.
The city mayor has coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation- Southern Mindanao to trace the origin of the said Facebook post.
CHO said they will continue to monitor the situation through their sanitation division and provide updates as needed.
