By Jefry M Tupas Manila Times/Davao City
Health officials in Davao City have found out that the maker of the durian candy that poisoned more than 1,600 individuals in the Caraga region is not registered with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).
Acting Mayor Paolo Duterte said a check made by the City Health Office with the Department of Health (DOH) revealed that Wendy’s Durian Candy, which is based in Barangay Maa, Davao City does not have the required permits to sell food products.
“It was found out that the manufacturer does not have the needed registration,” said Duterte.
This developed as the number of victims rose to at least 1,699 as of 2pm yesterday from Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur. In Surigao del Sur on Friday, victims came from the towns of Tago, Cagwait, Marihatag, Bayabas and Tandag City.
There were 438 who were assessed and evaluated at the Adela Serra Memorial Medical Centre while 483 cases were evaluated and assessed at the Social Hall in Tandag City.
Another 139 cases were reported at the Marihatag District Hospital, 101 cases from Cagwait town and 21 cases were brought to the Lianga District Hospital from the towns of Cagwait and Marihatag.
Wendy’s Durian Candy owner, Janet Aquino presented herself to the police immediately after the news broke, apparently to clear her name.
At the time of going to the press, seven were arrested while six are still at large.
Detained at the Tandag City Police are Genelyn Dorgas, a resident of Barangay Bucana in Davao City, and Henrito Bitco Amoguis, a resident of Valencia, Bukidnon.
Richard Rivera Jr, Junnil Teriote, John Dequilla, Joel Pasa and Martinez Bocaycay, all residents of Calinan, Davao City have been detained by the Cagwait police.
The police also reported that two suspects were arrested by Tandag Police Municipal Police Station on Friday night in the premises of the Special Education Elementary School in Tandag City while two others were arrested while selling Durian, Mango and Mangosteen candies with markings of Wendy’s at the school.
They were arrested onboard a van registered under the name of an executive pastor of a church at Phil-Jap Highway, Davao City.
The reports said that the vehicle was used by Richard Lawag Rivera Jr (28) and Martinez Sawit Bocaycay (19), both residents of Mac Arthur, Calinan, Davao City, for selling the poisonous candies.
The suspects and the vehicle including the confiscated items are now in the custody of Cagwait Municipal Police Station for proper disposition while the seized items will be turned over to the appropriate authorities. The reports said that police in Caraga are preparing and building up a case of physical injury in relation to RA 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013 and physical injury in relation to RA7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act against those apprehended vendors.
Because the suspects hail from Davao City, Duterte has ordered for the incident to be investigated.“As acting mayor, I am closely co-ordinating with the City Government of Tandag and other provincial officials of the Province of Surigao del Sur regarding this matter,” he said.
“Our City Health Office and the Department of Health are presently conducting an investigation to determine the cause of poisoning and source of the alleged durian and mangosteen candies. We are doing everything to get to the bottom of this. We are attending to this with urgency, as this involves public health.”
Officials found that the expiry date on the candy labels were erased.
