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Store owners apologize for lambanog; manufacturer drinks a shot


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The manufacturer of the lambanog that was sold at the store where the poisoning victims bought their drinks said that he is using his child's Food And Drug Administration license to manufacture the product.

"Meron pong kuwan 'yung aking anak kung sa kuwan, siya po ang may kuwan ng FDA...nakikisabay lamang po ako...'Yun po ang ginagamit ko," Alfredo Rey of Rey's Lambanog said in an exclusive by Ian Cruz on GMA News' 24 Oras on Thursday.

The report did not clarify what Rey's child's FDA license was for. 

In defense, Rey said that he has been in the industry for five decades and said that he always ensured the quality and safety of his products.

He also showed GMA News how his products were manufactured. To prove its safety and quality, Rey drank one shot before the camera, saying he could not pin-point why some people were negatively affected.

The owners of the store where the lambanog was bought said that Rey was their only supplier of the product. They also apologized.

"Hindi po ako masamang tao, alam na alam po nila kaya po ako'y humihingi ng tawad sa kanila. Kami po'y talagang tutulong sa abot ng aming makakaya," said Emma Ocaya.

"Humihingi ako ng pasensya sa inyo na katagal ko naman na nagtitinda doon wala namang nangyayari pa yung ganun. Hindi ko alam kung ano talaga ang nangyari," fellow store owner Nicanor Delos Reyes said.

Rey's lawyer, meanwhile, floated the possibility of sabotage and false claims.

"May posibilidad na sabotahe sa kanilang negosyo. Merong tao, merong mga bagay na nakapagdulot ng ganyang kaperwisyuhan na hindi nila naiintindihan. Maaring kalaban sa negosyo, maaring kalabang personal," Crisostomo Buela said.

"May mga impostor nang lumalapit na sila ay nasaktan, na sila ay nagkaroon ng problema sa ganyan. Syempre, nag iingat din naman 'yung mga tao, nag iingat sila, kaya hindi nila agad-agad makapagbigay," he added.

Nonetheless, the management said they will cooperate with authorities and take responsibility for the incident. Meanwhile, manufacturing has temporarily stopped.

At least 11 people in Laguna and at least four in Quezon province have died of suspected methanol poisoning from drinking lambanog in recent days. 

Fifty-two individuals have been brought to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), 12 of whom were in critical condition.

"Dapat siguro suyurin nila 'yung mga baryo. Sigaruduhin lang na lahat ay na-account," PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said.

Meanwhile, two individuals confined in EAMC from Rizal, Laguna said they were going to file charges.

"Pananagutin namin ay, talagang napakahirap ng pinagdaanan ko," Medel Ocbina said.

"Sasama na rin ako sa mga kasamahan kong nalason," Francisco Solquia added.

A doctor also advised those who had consumed lambanog to get themselves checked for methanol poisoning. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News

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