Laguna lambanog deaths rise to 12 as province bans sale of the liquor

The death toll due to lambanog consumption in Laguna's Rizal town rose to 12, prompting the local government to ban the sale of the distilled palm liquor in the entire province.

Analyn Lanka was among fatalities after consuming lambanog at a birthday party. Fourteen of her relatives were meanwhile hospitalized.

“Napakarami po eh. Halos po lahat ay pamangkin ko ang nando’n. At saka pinsan, kapatid. Eh, wala po kaming pagkukunan ng gagastusin,” Analyn’s sibling said in a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz.

“Sana ay mabigyan ng katarungan ang pagkamatay ng mga anak. Nakakaawa po ang nangyari sa mga apo pati,” Analyn’s father added.

The Laguna provincial government meanwhile declared a ban on the sale of lambanog in the entire province.

Calabarzon police chief Poliec Brigadier General Vicente Danao Jr. also banned the sale of lambanog across the entire region starting Monday.

The Philippine National Police seized bottles of the liquor in Emma Ocaya’s store, where the victims purchased their Rey Lambanog.

The 60-year-old Ocaya was not taken into police custody as she was hospitalized after her blood pressure rose.

Her relative Richard Gutierrez told authorities that their supplier was Fred Rey from San Juan, Batangas.

Rey turned himself to the Rizal Municipal Police on Monday afternoon but refused media requests for comment.

“Hindi rin niya maipaliwanag kung bakit nangyari ‘yun kasi sa 40 years daw nila sa paggawa ng lambanog ay ngayon lang nangyari ‘yung bagay na ‘yan,” said Rizal police chief Police Captain Lindley Tibuc.

Rey vowed to provide financial assistance to the victims.

Tibuc said they were looking into whether they would file of negligence resulting in multiple homicide and serious physical injury charges against Rey.

“Allegedly may pine-present siyang permit doon sa kanila. Hindi natin alam dito sa Laguna kung anong treatment dito noon,” added Laguna Police Provincial Director Police Colonel Eleazar Matta.

The Department of Health earlier explained that methanol poisoning from the lambanog had caused the 12 deaths and the hospitalization of hundreds of others. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News