Pancit bihon downs 120 in Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY (PNA) – At least 120 persons were rushed to the hospital in South Cotabato after eating what local officials suspected as spoiled noodles or pancit during a village celebration on Sunday.

The victims were all residents of a remote village of Lake Sebu in South Cotabato and belonged to the Christian denominational church and charitable organization Salvation Army.

Lake Sebu Mayor Antonio Fungan said the victims were residents of Barangay Takunel who celebrated the foundation anniversary the religious group and almost simultaneously complained of severe abdominal pain after partaking of pancit bihon for lunch during the event.

"Many victims claimed they experienced loose bowel movement and vomiting," Fungan told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida in Koronadal City.

“We suspect spoiled pancit (noodles) prepared for the celebration (as having had caused the food poisoning),” Fungan said, adding that the noodles were prepared as early as 1 a.m. Sunday and were served at noon.

The noodles were placed separately on small cellophane bags and distributed as viand during lunch.

Fungan said he learned from event organizers the bihon were prepared by village teenagers, all members of "Salvation Army."

"It may not be properly cooked or the food was spoiled when placed in cellophane and exposed to the heat of the sun," he said in Filipino.

"Relief assistance and medicine, including distilled water have been provided to the victims," the mayor said. Some victims were already discharged from the hospital but remained weak.

The town health office has gathered samples of the spoiled noodles for laboratory test at the provincial health office.