7 hospitalized for eating pork tapa

Batangas City — Seven people, five of whom are minors, were hospitalized for rehydration after suffering from food poisoning at Barangay San Agustin Silangan, Isla Verde here yesterday.

Dr. Libio Macatangay, attending physician at the Jesus Of Nazareth Hospital identified the victims as Mona Margaret, 6 ; Lizet Erica, 5 ; Kaire Marie, 2; Nerlglenne, 12; and Mary Lien, 9; all surnamed Pasco; Ignacio, 70; and Luisita Flores, 56, the children’s grandparents.

Reports said that at around 12 midnight, the victims, who had pork tapa (marinated pork) for dinner started to vomit and experienced stomach pains and loose bowel movement.

Dr. Macatangay said, based on hospital findings, the victims could have eaten tapa contaminated with staphylococcus bacteria that led to their food poisoning.

Macatangay said the victims have all the signs of food poisoning such as shivers, hoarse voice and wrinkled skin due to dehydration.

According to Rosalie Pasco, mother of the child victims, her husband Rexner bought the pork meat from an ambulant vendor.

She said they marinated the meat with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and salt and placed it in a jar for two days before frying.

They did not, however, fall ill like the other members of the family.

Batangas Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha extended medical assistance to the Pasco and Flores families.