OFFICIALS in downtown Barangay 26 in Cagayan de Oro are scouring for more victims in a suspected food poisoning case that already downed three people in the village.

Virginia Arinto, 45, and father and son Ariel Caitom, 31, and seven-year-old Arvie, were rushed to the hospital after showing symptoms of food poisoning -- all blamed on Sprite, a popular brand of softdrink produced by Coca-Cola bottlers.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

More victims have reportedly exhibiting the same symptoms that include scalding sensation in the throat and vomiting.

Barangay officials are documenting the cases as of Monday afternoon, said a staff who answered the phone when Sun.Star tried to reach barangay chairperson Alexander dela Cerna.

“Naglista pa sa tanan nga posible nabiktima kay ang uban wala man madala sa NMMC (Northern Mindanao Medical Center); tua nagpa-ospital sa private (All possible victims are being listed since some of them chose to go to private hospitals than be admitted at the NMMC),” said a barangay employee, who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

A number of victims reported having suffered burns in their mouth after drinking what tasted as acid-like substance from the Sprite bottle, the personnel said.

He said the softdrink company denied the products originated from their local production plant in a meeting with barangay officials and some of the victims’ relatives Monday.

“Ingon ang company nga basin gi-sabotahe sila, para lang sila madaot. Ang takob pud sa Sprite way serial number para mapamatud-an nga sa ilang planta gikan ang produkto (They said they may have been a victim of sabotage to discredit their company. They also pointed out that the caps on the tainted Sprite had no serial number to prove that these were produced inside their plant),” he said.

Ariel’s wife, Jovie, said they bought a bottle of the softdrink brand for their dinner and never expected meeting health problems.

“We buy this popular brand of softdrink every now and then and we never had any complaint. This is the first time this has happened,” she told Sun.Star Superbalita in the dialect.

It was not immediately known whether Arinto and the Caitoms bought the softdrink in the same store.

Jovie said they already complained the suspected poisoning to the softdrink company, whose officials promised to foot their medical bill.

She said the company admitted the softdrink that downed the three victims may be tainted, though the reasons remained unclear.

Calls seeking comment from the local Coca-Cola plant were not immediately returned Monday. A security personnel who answered the phone said their area manager was in Manila for an important meeting and that other departments were busy to take calls.

A follow-up in the evening at the plant’s production department also proved futile: the lady in-charge said only the personnel from the Human Resource department are allowed to speak to the media. (DVAIII/SVB)