Another man dies of lambanog poisoning

A 37-year-old man from Rizal, Laguna on Tuesday died after drinking lambanog, succumbing to the methanol poisoning that has killed at least a dozen merrymakers during this year's holiday season.

One Jenard Clerigo died of neurologic complications at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a report on Super Radyo dzBB by Isa Avendano-Umali.

Fifty-five patients are currently at the state hospital as of the time of the report — 10 in the red zone, 43 in the yellow zone, and two in the green or non-urgent zone, according to the report, which quoted PGH spokesperson Jonas del Rosario.

Three patients in the red zone are reportedly in critical condition. Thirty have been sent home.

The town of Rizal in Laguna has been placed under a state of emergency following the deaths of 12 residents and the hospitalization of more than a hundred due to lambanog poisoning.

Malacañang said it was alarmed by the reported cases and reminded the public to always check whether their alcohol purchases, or any product that they consume, have been registered or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said a rushed or incorrect production of the distilled palm liquor may lead to the production of methanol, a poisonous substance.

Del Rosario said victims must immediately be rushed to the hospital when the symptoms emerge because there is no home remedy for methanol poisoning.

“Ang unang mararamdaman, sumasakit tiyan, nasusuka, nahihilo ka, ‘yung iyong level of consciousness ay maaaring naapektuhan. Malaking warning sign ay ‘yung parang lumalabo ang paningin mo, at siyempre ‘yung iba maaaring maging unconscious na," he said in an earlier report. — RSJ, GMA News