3 more die after drinking lambanog in Bulacan

MANILA, Philippines — Three more men have died while another is still recuperating in a hospital after drinking lambanog in Pandi, Bulacan, police reported yesterday.

The figure brought to 12 the number of fatalities from drinking lambanog including five in Quezon City and four in Laguna.

Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, provincial police director, identified the fatalities as Rodrigo Beltran, Jerry Tumbaga Sr. and Armando Pineda.

Rolito Laderas is being treated at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila.

Initial investigation showed that Beltran and Tumbaga had a drinking session with their neighbors in Barangay Poblacion on Dec. 2.

They reportedly consumed two gallons of apple-flavored lambanog.

On Dec. 3, Beltran and Tumbaga complained of chest pains, dizziness and vomiting. They were brought to a hospital in nearby Sta. Maria town, where Beltran died while being treated.

Tumbaga died the following day.

On Nov. 30, Pineda and Laderas, both of Barangay Cacarong, drank a lambanog brand  reportedly manufactured in San Juan, Batangas.

Three days after the drinking session or on Dec. 3, Pineda complained of chest pain, dizziness and vomiting. He was brought to the Yanga Hospital in Bocaue where he died the following day.

On the day Pineda died, Laderas complained of the same symptoms. He was rushed to a hospital in Bocaue and was transferred to a hospital in Sta. Maria.

He was later transferred to PGH where he is still recovering.