‘Kuja’ downs 2 cops in Tagbilaran beach

TAGBILARAN CITY –– Two police officers fell ill after eating “kuja” (a kind of seashell) in Caingget Beach in this city.

The victims were identified as Police Corporals Ariben Arellano, 35, and Paulo Eliseo Jandayan, 31, who served as augmentation force at the Tagbilaran City Police Station.

The initial investigation showed that the two policemen went to Caingget Beach in Barangay Booy on Sunday afternoon to eat “kuja,” a delicacy in the area.

After eating “kuja,” the victims suffered dizziness, severe abdominal pain, and a tingling sensation on their fingers, lips, and tongue.

They were brought to a private hospital and are now out of danger.

“Kuja” is a shellfish found abundantly in deep seawater attached to rocks near Caingget Beach. The meat is reddish at the edges. It is considered a famous delicacy in the province.

There are at least 10 kuja harvesters. They dive three to six meters deep to get kuja and sell it for P50 per plate.

According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Caingget Beach, which is part of Tagbilaran Bay, is affected by red tide.

A BFAR advisory issued on Jan. 28 confirmed that red tide toxins are present in the coastal waters of Tagbilaran and Dauis.

BFAR said it issued the warning to alert the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating shellfish.

Red tide is a phenomenon where algae multiply rapidly and produce toxins harmful to wildlife and humans.

Red tide toxins, when ingested, can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning that could be fatal.

LZB