MANILA Mayor Honey Lacuna ordered an investigation into the food poisoning incident in Tondo which downed 15 persons and claimed the life of a person with disability.
The directive was given by Lacuna to the Manila Health Department (MHD) headed by Dr. Arnold ‘Poks’ Pangan, who has already mobilized his concerned personnel to conduct the probe.
Pangan said food samples will be taken as part of the investigation which will also involve interviews of the noodle soup seller and the victims as well.
He said the “food poisoning” happened in Barangay 172 in Tondo, Manila and the victims reportedly included the seller’s family members who also partook of the “chicken mami” that caused it all. A report to the MHD said the incident took place at around 10:30 a.m. and that the eatery where the victims bought the noodle soup is located at No. 392 Gapan St., Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila.
The victims were rushed to different hospitals after showing signs of poisoning like vomiting, dizziness, stomach pains and even blackening of the nails.
They were identified as Levita Manila, 70, mother of the fatality; Jimmy Rebaya, 52; Eliza Mae Alde, 14; Althea Jade Cabandi, 16; Kean Dave Dela Cruz, 5; Roldan Queen Garalde, 11; Rose Carla Atenta, 18; Ronnie Tante, 12; Aliyah Cabandi, 1-taong gulang; Inez Cabandi, 57; Isidro Biano Jr., 28; Irma Rivera, 68; Mark Anthony Balaroyos, 14 and Nerliza Picao, 35.
The victims included children, senior citizens, a pregnant woman and a PWD identified as Josefina Manila, 43, of 350 Cavite St., Gagalangin, Tondo. She had intellectual disability and died while getting treatment.
Also included in the list of victims was Joy dela Vega, 45, owner of the eatery that sold the noodle dish and who also got hospitalized for suffering the same symptoms.
Barangay Chairman Ramon delos Angeles said that it was the first time that such incident happened in their barangay and it was learned that Dela Vega had been selling in their area for many years already. (Baby Cuevas)
