LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—A still undetermined number of local government employees attending a seminar in Batangas province were hospitalized on Wednesday after showing symptoms of food poisoning.
The victims were guests at the Lima Park Hotel, a luxury hotel located inside an industrial zone straddling Lipa City and Malvar, Batangas.
Kelly Austria, a public relations consultant for the hotel, confirmed the report of food poisoning cases to the Philippine Daily Inquirer although she refused to give details at the moment.
She said the hotel management would issue a statement Wednesday evening.
“They were accountants representing different municipalities in Batangas. They showed signs (of food poisoning) although we are still waiting for the doctors’ findings,” Austria said in a phone interview.
She did not say how many were hospitalized but noted that “not all” participants fell ill.
“They were supposed to check out today,” she added.
In a text message, the Batangas police director, Senior Supt. Omega Jireh Fidel, said among the seminar participants were village captains, councilors, secretaries and treasurers.
Initial reports, he said, were that the victims were served ube rolls and cucumber juice for morning snacks.
Fidel said they also could not confirm yet how many were hospitalized, adding that they were having a hard time talking to the hotel and park officials.
Some victims, he added, were brought to Lipa Medix Medical Hospital while others to Mary Mediatrix Hospital, both in Lipa City.
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