Duterte orders DOJ probe on deadly lambanog

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is now looking into the alleged lambanog (coconut wine) poisoning incidents in Luzon, a few days after President Duterte ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation on the matter.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the NBI, an attached agency of the DOJ, was told to submit its reports on the lambanog poisoning that killed 16 people and hospitalized 300 others in Luzon.

“It is confirmed that the President has ordered the NBI to investigate the alleged lambanog poisoning incidents, and to submit a report thereon immediately,” Guevarra told reporters yesterday.

Reports from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that samples of the liquor that originated from a brewery in Batangas tested positive for methanol, a toxic substance that attacks internal organs when ingested.

The DOJ said it would wait for the conclusion of the NBI’s investigation before submitting reports and recommendations to the President.

Meanwhile, a 57-year-old baker from Rizal, Laguna never thought that their simple merrymaking during a company Christmas party last Dec. 21 would land him in hospital.

Medel Ocbina was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) last Dec. 22 after complaining of unbearable pain in his stomach and heat all over his body.

Ocbina said they tasted or smelled nothing unusual when they drank the coconut wine.

“But the following day, I felt like my whole body was on fire. It was like I was under the sun. My stomach was also aching,” he added.

Ocbina was among over 300 individuals poisoned after drinking lambanog on separate occasions in the past days.

He has no idea how many of his co-workers were downed by lambanog.

EAMC toxicologist John Paul Ner told The STAR that Ocbina was diagnosed with “metabolic acidosis” as a result of consuming lambanog later found to contain methanol, a byproduct of the distillation of the liquor.

Methanol, however, must be removed because it cannot be metabolized by the human body. Otherwise, it becomes a poison that can damage vital organs, particularly the kidneys.

Ner noted that Ocbina had already been cured of “metabolic acidosis,” but the hospital cannot discharge him yet because of his high blood pressure.

A total of 83 lambanog victims were brought to EAMC for treatment.

Three of them escaped while 11 insisted on going home to be with their families on Christmas Day and to seek treatment in a hospital near their areas.

For Ocbina, while he wanted to spend Christmas with his family, he knew the importance of getting immediate treatment.

“I want to go home for Christmas, but the doctors said I have to complete treatment or it will not be good for my body,” he said.

Being poisoned with lambanog may make him think twice before taking a sip of liquor again, according to Ocbina.

“I think I don’t want to drink liquor again. Or maybe, at least not lambanog. We’ll see,” he said.

The FDA found that the lambanog consumed by the victims did not have certificates of product registration issued by the agency.

FDA officer-in-charge executive director Eric Domingo said this means that the agency cannot guarantee the safety and quality of the products.

Domingo added that there are only 14 lambanog products registered with the FDA as of Dec. 23. These are Mang Andoy, Island Coco, Lakan Bronze, Jimmy’s (Bubble Gum Flavor), Jimmy’s (unflavored), San Juan Lambanog, Lakan Extra Premium, Craft Distilled Lakan, Lakan Silver, Dory’s Lambanong,  Jimmy’s Lambanong (Strawberry),  Ram-Ciel Lambanog, San Juan Premium Lambanog and San Juan. – With Sheila Crisostomo