At least 11 die after drinking lambanog in Laguna, Quezon: PNP

December 23, 2019

At least 11 persons died while two were comatose after they drank  lambanog (coconut wine) in Laguna and Quezon provinces last Sunday.

According to the Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Quezon) police, eleven persons died in Rizal, Laguna and one at Candelaria, Quezon.

Initial investigation said doctors found out that methanol poisoning is the cause of their death.

Two victims from Quezon province were comatose while four others who drank the same liquor were discharged from the hospital.

The owner of the distillery which supplied the coconut wine surfaced at the Rizal Municipal Police Station and vowed to cooperate in the probe.

Brigadier General Vicente Danao, Calabarzon regional director, ordered a temporary ban on selling lambanog. He ordered police commanders to tell store owners not to sell lambanog until the Food and Drug Administration issues a clearance.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III explained that irresponsible processing of lambanog may pose serious health threats. 

"Lambanog poisoning is caused by residual methanol, which, in high levels, becomes highly toxic for humans,” said Duque in a statement. Ella Dionisio/DMS