Korean missionaries cleared

19 CHILD ABUSE CASES DISMISSED

BENGUET prosecutors cleared two Korean missionaries of child abuse due to lack of evidence.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jurgenson Lagdao and Deputy Provincial Prosecutor Andres Gondayao during Monday’s flag raising ceremony at the Benguet capitol said the 19 complaints against the two Kore

ans, 52-year-old Lee In Suk and Tiehua Woom,55, were dismissed.

Nineteen counts of the alleged violation of Republic Act 7610 known as Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act were filed by the relatives and parents of the pupils of Natubleng Elementary School in Buguias against the Korean nationals.

The Korean nationals were blamed for food poisoning after giving candies to school children in Bangao bought from a nearby store on June 27, 2018.

According to earlier reports, students vomited, experienced stomach pain and was rushed to Atok District Hospital in Sayangan for treatment.

The candies were confiscated from the Koreans, parents of complainants and the store in Abatan, Buguias where the Korean nationals bought the candies.

Some 13 blood samples were also given to the Department of Health - Cordillera for laboratory examinations.

Result of the analytical toxicology of the 13 blood samples shows the level of sulfhemoglobin in all the samples was not detected while for methemoglobin was not detected in the eight blood samples.

The result provided the normal value of methemoglobin should be not more than three percent of total hemoglobin and the sulfhemoglobin, the clinical toxicity occurs beyond 10 g/dL.

The test result also indicated negative for both bacterias such as E. Coli and Salmonela.

The provincial prosecutor noted based on the test results from the candies, some species bacteria were found.

“Although some coliform and staphylococcus aureus were found, this does not indicate the presence of toxin. At most they suggest contamination of bacteria during the processing, handling, or storing of candies. Surely, in the absence of convincing evidence, respondents cannot be particularly blamed for such contamination as they only brought the candies from a retail store,” the decision of prosecution read.

The Prosecutor’s Office added the detection of methomoglobin in five blood samples is not enough proof of food poisoning. The detected levels are notably within the normal value.