Report: 'Butete' dish downs 7 in Surigao Norte

A dish made from butete (puffer fish) downed at least seven people last Thursday in Surigao del Norte province in Mindanao. Radio dzXL on Friday night cited belated police report saying the incident occurred around 8 a.m. Thursday in Linungganan village in San Francisco town. Cook Marcelino Bantilan, 44, said he regretted preparing the dish because many of the victims were his relatives. The other six victims included Joynilo Palomares, 22; Claudio Bantilan, 44; Joward Madrona, 24; Freddie Jun Pacot, 30; Ronald Amoncio, 22; and Jimboy Roxas, 12. Bantilan said he cooked the fish Thursday morning after getting it from a neighbor. However, many of the victims began vomiting and feeling weak after eating the dish. They were rushed to the hospital. — LBG, GMANews.TV