Authorities seize poisonous ticong fish from CamSur market

Authorities from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources confiscated sacks of toxic puffer fish being sold in Pili public market in Camarines Sur, a television report said Friday.

Acting on reports, BFAR officials raided the market and seized several sacks of the the fish locally known "butete" or “ticong” sold at around P100 per kilo.

According to the bureau, selling of the poisonous fish would result in fines ranging from P10,000 to P100,000.

Those who caught peddling may also be jailed for a minimum of one month.

BFAR urged the public not to buy and eat ticong to food avoid poisoning, especially among children.

Authorities said puffer fish's poison could down a person in seconds or several minutes. Victims would experience nausea, vomiting, and stomachache.

Earlier this week, four children in the province were poisoned after sharing ticong dish. Two of them died. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/LBG, GMA News