By Nimfa Estrellado December 28, 2019 The allegedly lambanog that caused the poisoning of more than 300 people in Candelaria, Quezon ...
December 28, 2019
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The allegedly lambanog that caused the poisoning of more than 300 people in Candelaria, Quezon and the towns of Rizal and Nagcarlan in Laguna this weekend. (Photo by Patrolya Probinsya)
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According to Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao, director of CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regional police, has ordered all police chiefs in the region to visit all lambanog (coconut wine) manufacturers to ensure the safety of coconut wine production.
"This is to ensure public safety because of what happened in Laguna and Quezon We do not want more people to buy and suffer the same fate," Danao told News in an interview Monday.
When released, the clearance stated to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , they would only authorize its resale.
It may be possible to confiscate the lambanog (coconut wine) if the store owners do not comply with the order.
According to a birthday celebration in Rizal, Laguna, a large number of the victims were killed and more than 100 were hospitalized, according to Police Col. Eleazar Matta, director of the Laguna Provincial Police Office,
He identified the deceased victims as Maricris Dimayuga, 24; Cenon Piedra, 60; Ricky Vitangcol; Analyze Lanuza, 34; Marlon Veridiano, Rizalino Monserat Jason Navorroza; Benedicto Mendoza and Elmer Dorado. Meanwhile, Rizal Municipal Health Office's tenth victim, Luis Urriquia, was pronounced dead at the Philippine General Hospital.
In the report of Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran, spokesperson of CALABARZON regional police said the drink happened Friday night at the home of one of the victims, Analyn Lanuza, in Barangay Pook in Rizal town.
Saturday midnight, Lanuza was taken to the hospital with Maricris Dimayuga and a Jethro Balana due to severe abdominal pain.
Later, both Lanuza and Dimayuga were released from the hospital, according to Gaoiran.
Mata also shared that five more people were killed while police were investigating to determine the cause of the case, which was reported to have been taken to the hospital by other guests.
In the initial investigation, the lambanog (coconut wine) was purchased from Rey Lambanog, a store owned by Emma Ocaya and Orlando Map.
In Candelaria town, Ernesto Aguilar, 54, a farmer, died after allegedly drinking lambanog (coconut wine) at a drink session with his friends and neighbors, according to Gaoiran.
The drinking session happened Thursday night at the Sitio center in Barangay Catalina. Two days later, Aguilar and his hospital guests were rushed to the hospital for severe abdominal pain.
"Aguilar actually went unconscious. He died due to acute respiratory syndrome," Gaoiran shared, reports the Quezon Provincial Police Office.
Two other victims, Fernando Balmes Aguilar, 54, tricycle driver and a 25-year-old tricycle driver, Christian Duarte Aguilar, were both comatose.
While four more victims have been released from the hospital.
Reportedly, the victims purchased the lambanog (coconut wine) at Rey Lambanog owned by Nicanor Delos Reyes, a resident of Bgy. Tipas, San Juan, Batangas
The source of the lambanog (coconut wine) allegedly caused the poisoning of more than 300 people in Candelaria, Quezon and the towns of Rizal and Nagcarlan in Laguna this weekend is originated in Barangay Tipaz, San Juan, Batangas.
PCPT Lindley Tibuc, Rizal police chief, said Monday morning that Fred De Los Reyes, who is the representative of Rey Lambanog, owned by Nicanor Buela Delos Reyes, was in contact with Rizal police station. The winery is located in Barangay Tipaz, San Juan, Batangas.
According to Tibuc, De Los Reyes is ready to cooperate with the victims and is also willing to cooperate with the investigation.
Through information obtained by the PNP, Rey Lambanog supplies wine at Emma Ocaya's store and Orlando Map in Brgy. Area, Rizal, the wine of the victims from Rizal and Nagcarlan.
It is also the alcohol of victims of Brgy. Sta. Catalina Sur, Candelaria, Quezon at the Rey Lambanog outlet in their village bought the drink.
Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez immediately ordered a temporary ban on the sale and consumption of any beverage throughout the province of Laguna during the investigation.
Even in the province of Quezon and some parts of Batangas, officials have warned that drinking should be avoided and lambanog (coconut wine) sales are temporarily halted.
CALABARZON police Regional director, Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., of all police chiefs in the region to offer the shops a temporary ban on the sling until the FDA does not provide their products.
Authorities have taken samples of Rey Lambanog and are now under investigation by the FDA.
Meanwhile, nine were still critical and were in the Intensive Care Unit ICU in separate hospitals with victims totaling 324 people.
Seven are critical from Laguna and two are from Candelaria.
Ricky Vitangcol, Cenon Piedra, 60; Analyzes Lanuza, 34; and Jason Navarroza, all from Barangay Pooc, Rizal town; and Maricris Dimayuga, 24 of Barangay Paule.
Also, killed were Marlon Veridiano, Elmer Dorado, both of Nagcarlan, and a Luis Urriquia who died while confined to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
According to the PNP, 309 people are still being treated illegally, including 18 in bad condition.
In Candelaria, Quezon, Ernesto Caraan Aguilar, 54, died; while two of his relatives, Fernando Balmes Aguilar, 53, and Christian Duarte Aguilar, 25, were also critical.
Four more victims were released from the hospital.
In recent years, several incidents of poisoning by lambanog (coconut wine) chemicals have been reported.
December last year, there were 21 reported deaths in the town of Capas, Tarlac; Antipolo City, Quezon City; and Sta. Rosa City, Calauan, and Calamba in Laguna.
The FDA has already warned about the use of the lambanog (coconut wine), especially those who are not registered with the agency.
The Department of Health has also announced that it will investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, the town of Rizal, Laguna has declared a state of emergency right from Mayor Vener Muñoz, due to the huge damage to the town.
Malacañang has also expressed concern over the incident.
In a statement issued by Presidential Spokesman Atty. Salvador Panelo, who reminds the public to always check their alcoholic beverages if they have not been expired, is in good working order and if registered and approved by the Bureau of Food and Durg Administration.
The remaining lambanog samples of the victims and the samples collected from the Rey Store where the sling was purchased were submitted by Dr. Clemerte Alcala, municipal health doctor of the FDA.
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