Press Release
April 12, 2015

Koko asks LGU and health officials for massive inspection
of food outlets to prevent outbreak of food poisoning

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel lll today enjoined local officials to check other food establishments in Manila after an alleged food poisoning incident that killed two persons and sent another to a hospital shocked and alarmed residents living near a small store selling milk tea in Sampaloc area.

?Pimentel said a possible outbreak must be prevented even as he urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately determine the cause of the food poisoning to relieve the people after news of the incident became the talk of the town and turned viral in the social media.

?News reports said Suzaine Dagohoy and William Abrigo, owner of the Ego Cha Milk Tea House along Bustillos Street, collapsed moments after drinking the milk tea believed to be contaminated with poisonous chemicals and died hours later in a hospital.

?Arnold Aydalla, boyfriend of Dagohoy who also took a sip but quickly spat it out, survived the incident and was reported in stable condition at the Philippine General Hospital where the victims were rushed last Thursday.

?Pimentel said the city government of Manila should conduct a massive sanitary inspection of all food outlets, especially in thickly populated neighborhoods to prevent a similar occurrence because of unhealthy conditions.

?He said the police should also speed up its investigation to determine what triggered the food poisoning so that the alleged perpetrators could be immediately arrested, jailed and charged in court.

?The Mindanao senator likewise urged health officials, especially the FDA, to expand their inspection of food products and food outlets to protect the interest of the public against persons breaking the rules and regulations on the production and sale of food items.

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