Adobo downs 22 at Malabon politician’s meet

MANILA, Philippines - At least 22 persons were hospitalized after eating a meal of pork adobo, hardboiled egg and rice during a meeting on Monday night of the supporters of Malabon Rep. Veronica-Jaye Lacson, who is running for city mayor.

Doctors manning the graveyard shift at the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon (PBM) had their hands full as patients complaining of dizziness, vomiting, headache and diarrhea arrived one after the other at past 10 p.m.

According to nurses at the PBM, 22 persons – most of them residents of Barangays Tugatog, Tanong, Tenejeros and Concepcion – were diagnosed with food poisoning.

A source said other victims were rushed to the nearby MCU Hospital, Tondo General Hospital and Navotas General Hospital.

The victims were among the 950 persons who attended a meeting organized by Lacson’s supporters.

One of the victims told The STAR that the meeting was held at the Veranda Building in Barangay Tenejeros at around noon and the meal was served at past 3 p.m.

Some of the victims said they took home the packed lunch and gave it to their relatives.

At least seven children were among those who were admitted into the PBM.

Lacson said she was not aware of the incident “but I also ate the food and nothing happened to me.”

The packed lunches were distributed in three batches and the food served to the victims reportedly came from the second batch.

Katrina Jamero, who claimed to be the officer-in-charge of Storm, the group that organized the meeting, initially claimed they tapped the services of a caterer but refused to name the firm.

Jamero also said their supporters who were taken to the PBM did not suffer from food poisoning but were feeling the effects of the heat and eating their lunch late.

She also said she and other Storm staff ate the food but nothing happened to them.

A source said Lacson gave money to the group to arrange for catering but “they cooked it themselves to save the money and pocketed the extra.”

The STAR learned that the food was reportedly cooked by Herminio Soyangco. A person who answered calls to Soyangco’s telephone number said he is a registered caterer but did not have permits or licenses.

Senior Superintendent Severino Abad Jr., city police chief, said they did not receive any information from the PBM but will initiate an investigation because of the large number of victims.

Lacson promised to assist the victims and called for an investigation of the incident.