Food served in death anniversary kills 3 ‘White candy’ downs 10 studes

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Food served during a first death anniversary gathering, including pansit (noodles) and fried tulingan – a fish species that needs to be properly cooked as it contains toxins – caused the death of three people and the hospitalization of five others in Marinduque Sunday night, police said.

In a similar incident, 10 Grade 3 pupils in Los Baños, Laguna were rushed to the hospital Monday morning after they ingested white medicine tablets they mistook as candies.

Senior Superintendent Diosdado Valeroso, Marinduque police director, said the poisoning victims in Barangay Masagisi, Sta. Cruz town ate food served at the house of one Paquito Mendiola to mark a relative’s first death anniversary.

Aside from pansit and fried tulingan, the food served included hot cakes, meat dishes and guinataang isda (fish cooked in coconut milk).

Hours after the feast, the victims experienced stomach ache, dizziness, vomiting and difficulty in breathing.

The three fatalities were identified as Paquito Mendiola, 66; Sabino Pastoral, 53; and Luisito Riofrido, 51.

In Los Baños, 10 pupils of the Lopez Elementary School were rushed to the Calamba Doctors’ Hospital Monday morning after complaining of dizziness, vomiting, stomach ache and difficulty in breathing.

Reports said one of the students found the white tablets placed in a plastic sachet near the school’s flagpole.

Thinking they were candies, the student shared them with the others and all fell sick after each had consumed one or two tablets.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas, Laguna police director, said the drug had affected the children’s oxygen level.  – Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso