Lambanog leaves 8 dead, 60 hospitalized in Laguna, Quezon

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Philippines  — Eight persons died and around 60 others were rushed to hospitals after drinking coconut wine, locally known as lambanog, in Rizal, Laguna and Candelaria, Quezon on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Rizal police chief Capt. Lindley Tibuc said the victims were rushed to the Nagcarlan and San Pablo hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.

Tibuc said the victims attended different Christmas parties, but bought the lambanog from the same shop.

“Based on accounts of the victims, it turns out that they drank one and the same brand of lambanog, which they bought from Rizal town,” Tibuc said.

He added that the local government, headed by Rizal Mayor Vener Muñoz, ordered the closure of the lambanog shops in the municipality.

Calabarzon police spokesperson Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran said three unidentified victims have been confirmed dead due to alleged alcohol intoxication after drinking the coconut wine.

Gaoiran added that the lambanog store was owned by Emma Ocaya, 60, of Barangay Pook, Rizal.

The identities of the victims are still unknown as of last night, according to the police spokesperson.

In Candelaria, Quezon, Ernesto Aguilar, 54, of Barangay Catalina Sur died after drinking coconut wine on Thursday but was only reported Saturday.

Other victims identified as Fernando Balmes, 53; Christian Aguilar, 25; David Tamagos, 22; Armando Romulo Aguilar, 34 and Nelson Balmes Aguilar, 48, were brought to hospital.

The victims complained of stomach pain and dizziness.

Reports said two were still in comatose and four were hospitalized at Peter Paul Medical Center hospital.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Rizal has collected sample of the remaining lambanog drunk by the victims and sample from the store for examinations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The MDRRMO team also recommended to the local government the issuance of order to Rey Lambanog to temporarily stop its distribution and sale of their coconut wine pending investigation and result of FDA tests.