Spoiled lechon downs 17 in Muntinlupa

A total of 17 guests and restaurant staff were brought to different hospitals in Muntinlupa City on Saturday afternoon after they reportedly ate spoiled lechon (roasted pig) served at a wedding reception.

PO3 Rey Quizon, case investigator, said nine guests, all residents of Camella Townhomes I, Putatan, Muntinlupa, were brought to the Medical Center of Muntinlupa Hospital while the eight crew of the restaurant were taken to the Alabang Medical Clinic for treatment.

Initial investigation showed that lechon was served during a noontime wedding reception held at the Max Restaurant located at the Ayala Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa, City.

Pinky Bautista, Max Restaurant branch manager, admitted that a number of people were treated for food poisoning in Muntinlupa but denied that they were responsible for the incident. "The lechon was given as a gift to the bride and groom and was airlifted from Cebu," she clarified.

She also said that only the guests at the wedding reception were affected and the restaurant never received any complaint from other customers." Her staff, she said, were affected because they were given portions of the meal.

She added that when the roasted pig was delivered it was well sealed in plastic, newspapers and packaging tape. However, there was a small opening in the package.

"I stayed with my people at the hospital and waited until they were discharged at around 11 p.m.," Bautista said. The restaurant’s internal comptroller, Haydee Palma, was the last victim of food poisoning incident and is currently confined at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan.

Quizon reportedly took food samples served in the restaurant, including the roasted pig and submitted them to the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for examinations. — Evelyn Macairan