Coconut wine downs 12 villagers in Zambo Norte town

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines- At least 12 persons were downed after drinking coconut wine believed to be laced with poison last Sunday in a village of Siayan town, Zamboanga del Norte, according to police.

The victims who were rushed to the nearby hospital were identified as  Carlos Tusing Sr., Carlos Tusing Jr., Samuel Gabato, Peter Otto, Benelito Aligay, Liza Langubon, Regine Langubon, Lendiza Langubon, Angeline Tumanlas, Edgar Tumanlas, Jolito Pasagad, Walter Gabato, all of legal age and all residents of Barangay Dumpilas.

Investigation disclosed that prior to the incident,  Aligay, one of the victims who is a coconut wine collector, harvested the wine early Sunday morning and let it sit at their house's balcony and went to his uncle's house.

After a while, Aligay returned home and brought the wine to sitio Bialong. The wine was eventually bought by his  brother-in-law and drunk it together with their friends.

Police investigation said a few minutes later, 12 victims suffered stomach pain, dizziness and vomiting.

They were immediately rushed to Siayan Diagnostic Center for  treatment and were described to be in stable condition.

Responding team recovered half of a container of coconut wine, locally known as tuba,  and was submitted to Provincial Crime Laboratory at Minaog, Dipolog City for examination.