Guv gives P10k aid to victim, NBI, DOH probe results awaited

THE hospitalization of over 100 guests and the death of a child following a wedding feast in Batuan town last week sent the provincial government's Quick Response Team (QRT) to Sitio Ilaud, Barangay Sta. Cruz last Monday to assess the situation. Engr. Emmanuel Caberte who heads the QRT reported that while most of the patients returned home after consultation, a total of 39 were admitted to the Cong. Simeon Toribio Memorial District Hospital (CSTMDH) in nearby Carmen town, two at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) and another two at the St. Jude General Hospital both in Tagbilaran City.

On instructions of Gov. Erico Aumentado who was in China to sign a sisterhood agreement with Jiangxi province, Primitiva Ontong, assistant provincial treasurer and his executive assistant on fiscal matters motored to Batuan the following day to give P10k to the stricken parents of six-year old Gino Payot. Separate teams from the Region 7 offices of the Department of Health and the National Bureau of Investigation trooped to Ilaud to conduct investigations. The DOH team took samples of the water allegedly from an open well to augment the meager trickle from the tap used during the food preparation.

Dr. Pacita Madamba, Batuan municipal health officer said the DOH officials initially suspected contamination by bacteria due to improper food preparation. The NBI team, on the other hand, conducted an autopsy on Gino. Results from either investigation, however, were not yet available as of press time. The 10 th of 12 children, Gino would have been in Grade 1 this June said Provincial Social Welfare Office Constancia Tuñacao. Similarly downed by what they ate, his parents could not immediately bring him to the hospital. When they were finally able to do so, the boy was already dehydrated. He expired a few hours later, Tuñacao said. The Provincial Health Office under Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot immediately sent bottles of dextrose, antibiotics and other medicines all worth around P19k for the patients at the CSTMDH, one of 10 hospitals devolved to the provincial government.

Tuñacao also returned that day, bringing rice, noodles and canned goods for the survivors who were incapacitated for at least two to three days. The victims had partaken of the food served at lunch for the wedding feast of Joel Lumay and Arsenia Payot. Following tradition, Lumay's family had taken care of the cooking and other chores for the reception; the bride and her family were “guests.” The couple, the parents and sponsors at the presidential table used plates but the other guests used the native disposable kind – banana stem – on which they had some dinuguan, pancit, menudo or ginagmay, rice and some pork humba. By 2 p.m., however, the wedding guests mostly complaining of stomach pains, headaches, vomiting and loose bowel movement (LBM), sought admission into the CSTMDH. On Tuesday, the worst was over. Tuñacao reported that by Wednesday, they were all discharged. Tuñacao who interviewed Gino's mother said the latter already observed that the pancit or noodles tasted queer and was quite spoiled, but she ate it anyway.

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