Saturday, January 05, 2008 Davao Oriental officials assist food poisoning victims By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Provincial Government of Davao Oriental gave assistance to the food poisoning victims from Cateel who consumed expired ingredients of spaghetti and macaroni they prepared for their New Year's celebration.
Latest reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that the victims totaled to 41 and not just six persons as earlier reported. It was learned that the six reported were the ones brought to the Davao Medical Center (DMC) because of the severity of their ailment. The rest were admitted to the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in the City of Mati.
Governor Corazon Malanyaon, in a text message Thursday afternoon, said they have already given aid to the victims at the DOPH, while Representative Mayo Almario took care of those admitted at the DMC.
The six victims now at DMC were identified as Lilian Basot, 73; Margie Basot, 35; Farelle Jane Basot, 16; Pamela Ann Basot, 8; cousins Judith Mama, 46, and Francis Aparice, 18, all residents of Barangay San Antonio, Cateel.
The victims were first rushed to the Cateel District Hospital where they spent the New Year, but were later brought to DMC on Thursday when their conditions did not improve.
Lerma de Guzman, the victims' relative, said they were having a grand time on the eve of the New Year and were partaking of spaghetti and macaroni among others when the six started complaining of stomach pain and nausea.
De Guzman said they had a hard time transporting the victims to Davao City since there were very few vehicles traveling at that time because of bad weather.
"Nagpakyaw na lang mi'g van padung diri (We just rented a van to bring us here)," de Guzman said.
De Guzman said it was found out that the ingredients for the macaroni and spaghetti that the victims bought at a local store were already expired.
"Mura'g 1989 pa man daw to nag-expire ang ilang mga ingredients nga napalit, kabalo ka'g probinsya punit kay punit lang ang mga tao (I was told that the expiry date was like 1989. You know how it is in the province, consumers just buy what they see)," de Guzman said.
De Guzman said they would ask the police to investigate the incident once the victims have fully recovered.
