THREE persons were killed, while four others were hospitalized after they allegedly ate a pufferfish, locally known as “botete,” for dinner in Tabango, Leyte Monday, December 28, 2020.
The fatalities were identified as Restituto Sumalinog, 63, married, construction worker; Lucricia Anislagon, 49, married, housewife; and Ramil Catam-isan, 40, farmer.
Hospitalized were Jolito Dalut, 25, construction worker; Rodulfo Hiki, 26, married, farmer; Lucina Hiki, 24, married, housewife; and Beinvinida Sumalinog, 53, married, housewife, all residents of Sitio Patag, Barangay Tabing, Tabango.
Initial investigation disclosed that a certain 60-year-old resident named as Corazon Yaon brought a pufferfish to Restituto around 2 p.m. Monday.
Restituto then cooked the fish and brought it to their barbecue stand around 6:30 p.m. Monday and offered it to their customers for free while they engaged in a drinking session.
Later in the evening, Restituto, along with Anislagon and Catam-isan, suddenly experienced "extreme vomiting and loss of consciousness" after they allegedly consumed the liver parts of the pufferfish.
They were brought to Tabango Community Hospital, but were pronounced dead on arrival.
The other victims were further referred to Leyte Provincial Hospital in Palo, Leyte and are now in stable condition, according to the report from the Police Regional Office headquarters in Palo, Leyte.
Police are investigating the incident. (SunStar Philippines)