Police acting on a tip caught a tricycle driver transporting the meat in Loma de Gato village, reports GMA News, citing Radio DzBB.

The driver, initially identified as Reynaldo Bendam, was brought to a local police station for questioning.

Mr Bendam also faces added sanctions after he failed to present a driver's license, the report said.

Thursday night's incident happened when authorities were on alert against the selling of tainted fish from some areas in Batangas and Pangasinan that were affected by a recent fish kill.

In Metro Manila, authorities had seized several hundred kilos of double-dead fish during searches at public market stalls.