Arrests made after 1,300 poisoned by candies

THESE are the durian candies that allegedly took ill at least 40 pupils of Kidapawan City Pilot Elementary School in Kidapawan City on Thursday afternoon. The candy, according to its information sheet, is made in Davao City. WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA/INQUIRER MINDANAO

TAGUM CITY—Police in Surigao del Sur have so far arrested 12 people, who reportedly sold durian candies that downed over 1,300 people, mostly children, in the province on Friday.

The supposed manufacturer of the candies, Davao City-based Wendy’s, issued a statement disowning the products even as acting Davao City Mayor Paolo Duterte ordered an investigation of where the poisonous sweets had come from.

Supt. Martin Gamba, spokesperson of the Caraga regional police, said the arrests were made in the towns of Cagwait, Tago and Tagbina and in the city of Tandag after authorities conducted pursuit operations against ambulant vendors said to be responsible for the proliferation of the candies.

He said those initially arrested during the pursuit operations were Junnil Martinez, 30; John Oben, 36; and Joel Paja, all of Calinan, Davao City.

Gamba said during follow-up operations, members of the Tago police station arrested Richard Rivera Jr., 28; and Martinez Bocaycay, 19; both residents of Calinan. A white Mitsubishi L-300 FB Deluxe van with license plate MEM 366 and registered under the name of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ based in Davao was also seized.

The other arrested suspects were Genelyn Pasa, 26, of Bucana, Davao City; and Henry Amoguis, 21, of Valencia City, Bukidnon, who were caught in the act of selling Wendy’s durian, mango and mangosteen candies in the premises of the Special Education Elementary School in Tandag City.

He did not identify the rest of the arrested suspects, who are now detained in different police stations in the province.

Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel said in a phone interview that he had ordered policemen, mayors and school principals to remain vigilant for toxic substances that are being sold on the streets and in schools.

As of last count, Pimentel said 1,350 persons had suffered nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps after eating the candies.

There have been no fatalities, Pimentel said.

Gamba said the confiscated items had been turned over to the Department of Health in Tandag for examination while charges of physical injury and violation of Republic Act No. 10611 or Food Safety Act. Other unspecified charges are being prepared against those arrested.

The Surigao del Sur food poisoning case came after at least 40 pupils in Kidapawan City also complained of nausea and abdominal pains after consuming durian candies, which were labeled Wendy’s, on Thursday.

As in the Surigao del Sur case, the candies were sold by ambulant vendors, according to authorities there.

Dr. Gerry Reyes, Kidapawan City Hospital resident physician, said other victims had suffered vomiting.

“The cases of food poisoning were very mild but still, we consider it as food poisoning since the symptoms, such as abdominal pain and nausea, were there,” Reyes said.

In a statement, Wendy’s said the candies were probably made to look like it manufactured them.

The candy manufacturer said based on information that reached the company, the tainted candies sold to the victims came in packs of 10.

“Our products are being sold at bags of 100 only,” Wendy’s said.

Amid the candy manufacturer’s disowning of the tainted candies, Duterte ordered an investigation.

Duterte also ordered the city health office to send sanitary inspectors to various durian candy manufacturers in the city, even as he said it was not conclusive that the tainted products came from Davao City.

“We are doing everything to get to the bottom of this,” he said, adding that the issue was urgent because it involved public interest. Frinston Lim with reports from Williamor Magbanua and Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao