Saturday, February 03, 2007 10 Japanese guests ‘fall ill’ from food
AT LEAST 10 Japanese nationals who are in Cebu for work suffered diarrhea after eating a popular Filipino food.
Dionisio Chiong confirmed that the Japanese nationals were rushed to the hospital but said that the cause of the food poisoning is yet to be determined through a stool exam.
Chiong’s son entertained the foreigners since his son’s company is the supplier of the Japanese tourists’ underground cable company.
Chiong said the foreigners ate their native dish for lunch last Wednesday. Later in the evening, around 11 p.m., they ate pochero, a popular Filipino casserole dish with beef and vegetables.
By Thursday dawn, the Japanese reportedly fell ill and were vomiting while experiencing diarrhea.
They were rushed to the Chong Hua Hospital emergency room in the morning, said Chiong, though not all of them were admitted.
But City Health Department officials denied the report.
City Health Officer Fe Cabugao said a team of sanitary inspectors was sent to the restaurant and the hospital where Japanese nationals were rushed last Thursday, but the report could not be confirmed.
“It was hearsay because when we checked, it was negative. As of today we have not received a report about the incident or a request for an inspection of the establishment. We are still waiting for the hospital to get in touch with us,” she told Sun.Star Cebu.
Though they have already tapped a lawyer, the foreigners are reportedly not blaming any restaurant yet until the results of their stool exam comes out.
No complaint
Cabugao, meanwhile, said they did not inspect the restaurant where the Japanese nationals allegedly had their last meal before falling ill.
Although they already have the name, Cabugao explained that they received no complaint.
Also, the restaurant has three branches in the city and it was also not confirmed where the foreigners dined.
A source at the City Health Department said they tried to investigate the alleged food poisoning incident.
But when they got to the hospital, the Japanese nationals declined from being interviewed by the City Health personnel. (JGA/LCR)
