Girl dies after eating porridge in Antipolo City

ANTIPOLO CITY — A three-year-old girl died two hours after she was discharged from a local hospital here where she was rushed after she complained of dizziness and vomiting after eating porridge laced with cassava. Three of the victims’ siblings and a cousin were also hospitalized.

Senior Superintendent Carlito Dimaano, Rizal PNP provincial director identified the victim as Desiree Zamora, of Tagumpay St., Barangay Bagong Nayon.

Dimaano said the victim and her sister, Kimberly, 6; brothers Cedric, 4; and Jogenes, 1; and their cousin, Myka Villarin, 6; were playing in their backyard when Zamora’s mother arrived at 5:45 p.m. last Saturday. The mother ordered the children to get inside the house to eat porridge laced with their newly-harvested cassava. Minutes after eating, however, the children started to vomit and complained of dizziness prompting their parents to rush them to the Antipolo City district hospital. The five children were discharged from the hospital after doctors gave them the green light. Hours later, however, Desiree died in her sleep.

This development prompted their parents to rush the four other children to the National Children’s hospital but were denied admission because they have no money intended as down payment. They were transferred to the Quezon City General hospital.

Senior Inspector Racotero, precinct commander of Police Substation 3 here, surmised that the cassava might have been planted upside down which resulted in its high toxicity.

Police will submit samples of the cassava to the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for examination. — Non Alquitran