LAGUNA, Philippines – The death toll from lambanog (coconut wine) poisoning continued to rise after another victim died in hospital yesterday, according to police.
Rene Vitangcol, 48, of Pook in Rizal town, died at past 3 a.m. at the Batangas City Regional Hospital, Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran, spokesman for Calabarzon police, said.
On Tuesday, 37-year-old Jun Lenard Clerigo succumbed to neurologic complications at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), bringing to 16 the number of fatalities from lambanog poisoning. Fifty-five patients remain under observation at the PGH.
Police said Clerigo also drank lambanog bought from a retail outlet in Rizal and bearing the brand Rey Lambanog.
Reports said the number of hospitalized victims rose to 494, but police said they were still checking the figures as the hospitals delayed the release of the data.
Probers said some of the victims have been discharged from hospital after being treated.
Rizal town police chief Capt. Lindley Tibuc said 12 persons died in Rizal and four in Candelaria, Quezon after drinking lambanog during a Christmas party last week.
Those who died in Candelaria were Ernesto, Fernando, Christian, all surnamed Aguilar, and Marvin Macatangay.
Police said the fatalities in Rizal were Analyn Lanuza, Fiedra Cenon, Maricriz Lanuza, Jason Navarozza, Elmer Dorado, Ricky Vitangcol, Marlon Veridiano, Luis Urriquia, Rizalino Monserat and Benedicto Mendoza.
Charges vs lambanog owners
As five of seven samples of lambanog tested positive for methanol, Tibuc said they are still waiting for the copy of the results released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the filling of cases against the owners of the coconut wine brand.
The FDA said the five samples contained high levels of methanol. They were collected from Emma’s lambanog store, Orlando Mapa store and the Rey Lambanog brand.
Tibuc said they are still consolidating the documents, including the testimonies of the victims and the results of FDA test.
Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and negligence are being readied against the lambanog owners, police said.
The FDA pushed for stricter rules in the issuance of permits to liquor manufacturers amid the lambanog poisoning.
FDA officer-in-charge Eric Domingo said local government units (LGUs) should require liquor manufacturers to secure registration from the agency prior to issuance of license to operate.
Domingo said there are municipalities, cities and provinces that have ordinances requiring manufacturers of food and drinks to secure license from the FDA before they can obtain business permit.
“But there are LGUs that issue mayor or business permit to food manufacturers without registration from the FDA,” he said.
Domingo said FDA registration is important, especially for products considered “high risk” to consumers.
He said alcoholic beverages such as lambanog are considered high risk and should not be manufactured in an uncontrolled setup.
Manufacturing of alcohol products, Domingo said, requires standards because these may contain methanol, which is poisonous and can lead to death.
The FDA said methanol content in alcoholic drinks should not exceed one percent per liter of the beverage.
Methanol is a by-product produced naturally when distilling lambanog. The substance should be removed because it cannot be metabolized by the body.
Among the symptoms of metabolic acidosis are stomach ache, vomiting, nausea and dizziness. – With Mayen Jaymalin