MANILA, Philippines — The death toll in two provinces— Laguna and Quezon—from lambanog, or coconut wine, poisoning has risen to 14 after another victim died during treatment at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila, according to police. Col. Eleazar Matta, Laguna police chief, said the latest fatality was Junjun Clerico, who also drank lambanog bought from a retail outlet in Barangay Pook, Rizal town and bearing the brand “Rey Lambanog”. ADVERTISEMENTThe number of hospitalized victims also rose to 494 as of 1 p.m. In total, 12 died and 489 others were sent to hospitals after drinking lambanog in Laguna, while two died and five were hospitalized after drinking the same from a retail outlet of the same brand at Barangay Sta. Fred Rey, owner of Rey Lambanog, surfaced and presented himself at the Rizal Municipal Police Station on Monday, denying liability for the deaths and saying he has been selling lambanog for decades without any untoward incident.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 24, 2019 07:41 UTC