Food poisoning downs 240 guests at Imelda birthday bash

At least 240 people were given medical attention due to suspected food poisoning after attending the 90th birthday celebration of former First Lady Imelda Marcos in Pasig City on Wednesday, according to the police.

Initially, Colonel Rizalito Gapas, chief of Pasig City Police, in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB said an estimated "80 plus na ang nare-rekord nung ating medical responders."

A follow-up report by Super Radyo dzBB's Glenn Juego quoted Bryant Wong of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office as saying the number of victims has ballooned to 204.

Wong would later update the figure to 244 in a separate interview on GMA News TV's QRT, adding that city officials are still looking for other victims that were "unaccounted for."

The celebration was held at the Ynares Sports Arena and attended by around 2,500 guests and Marcos supporters, who came to the venue in buses and jeepneys.

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos during her birthday celebration in Pasig City, where more than 200 guests fell ill from suspected food poisoning.

Juego said some victims were brought to hospitals outside Pasig City, including in Quezon City and Mandaluyong City.

The report said the two caterers served food for the party: one for VIP guests, and another one for regular guests, most of which were the ones who fell ill.

Among the food served were siopao, spaghetti, and pork and chicken adobo with egg. The report said authorities were also checking the drinking water consumed by the victims.

Some of the food served at former First Lady Imelda Marcos' birthday celebration in Pasig City, where more than 200 guests fell ill from suspected food poisoning. IVAN MAYRINA/GMA News

The report said some of the victims have already been discharged.

Personnel from the Philippine Red Cross also responded to assist those affected by the food poisoning.

Eight PRC ambulances responded to an alleged food poisoning in a private celebration at the Ynares Sports Complex at 11:20 this high noon, July 3. According to reports, an estimated 2,000 participants were present in which at least 137 individuals suffered vomiting and dizziness. pic.twitter.com/cgsuj2iySr

— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) July 3, 2019

Imelda's daughter, Senator Imee Marcos, who was at the event, said they will look after the victims and vowed to visit them in the hospital.

"Asikasuhin na lang natin yung mga nasa ospital, at asahan po ninyo na bibisitahin natin ang bawat isa," she told the audience in a speech. 

The Super Radyo dzBB report said the program went on despite the incident, with entertainers continuing to perform on stage while sick guests were being taken out one-by-one in the back.

Gapas said they have yet to identify the event's caterer and that an investigation will be held. "Ila-laboratory pa yung tubig, yung pagkain, siyempre lahat yan titignan muna," he said. 

The dzBB report said most victims complained of vomiting and dizziness after eating adobong manok. 

In the QRT interview, Wong said the packed meals given to the guests were to blame for the poisoning.  —KBK/MDM, GMA News