One dead, 32 hospitalized in Davao food poisoning

A “pamamanhikan" in Davao del Sur in Mindanao turned sour after a guest died and 32 others were hospitalized due to food poisoning supposedly from the meal served during the event Wednesday night. Radio dzBB’s Davao affiliate on Friday said the incident occurred in Malalag town in Davao del Sur, where 13 of the 32 hospitalized guests remained in serious condition. The report identified the fatality as Serapio Campus Jr., 76. It added the other guests who complained of stomach pains were brought to the Pineda Medical Clinic in Malalag. A separate report on the Daily Mirror said the guests who suffered stomach pains included children. An initial investigation showed the parties at the “pamamanhikan" – a custom where the groom-to-be and his parents visit the bride-to-be and her parents to ask for the woman’s hand in marriage – had served dishes including caldereta and pancit at the meal. The report cited initial findings by the clinic that the food may have contained bacteria. Despite the incident, the couple-to-be plans to go on with their wedding, the dzBB report said — LBG, GMA News