6 more sellers of ‘toxic’ durian candies still at large –police

Authorities are looking for six more suspects who allegedly sold the expired durian and mangosteen candies that made close to 2,000 people, most of them students, in the CARAGA Region sick, police said Wednesday.

"There are 13 suspects in all—five in Cagwait and two in Tandag. May six pa at large at from the start, hinahanap na sila," said Cagwait Police chief Sr. Inspector Manolo Andrew Caoile.

"We cannot divulge the names of the suspects because we are in the process of validation, pero galing sa suspects ang mga pangalan," he added.

Two of the seven vendors earlier arrested for selling the expired candies have posted bail for one of the charges filed against them, according to PO3 Porferio Laurente Serrano Jr. of Tandag City Police.

The vendors are facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple serious physical injuries in relation to Republic Act 7610, violation of RA 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013, and violation of RA 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

He said Genelyn Dorgas Pasa and Henrito Bitko Amoguis remain under police custody for other charges.

"Nakapag-bail bond po si Pasa at Amoguis para sa charge na reckless imprudence, pero na-turnover na sila sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology sa Tandag City Jail," Serrano said.

Their five other cohorts, meanwhile, remained under the custody of the Tandag police.

"Lima po ang nasa Tandag ngayon habang ongoing ang pagsampa ng chief namin sa piskal," PO2 Guilbert Ebiara told GMA News Online.

Quiboloy

Cagwait Police chief Sr. Inspector Manolo Andrew Caoile said that while they haven't verified the vendors' connection with Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), the religious group founded by Apollo Quiboloy, its lawyer had asked for an update on the case a day after the police filed complaints against the suspects.

"They never mentioned Quiboloy's group, but they're clearly associated with them kasi inaasikaso sila ng lawyer at members nila,” Caoile said.

He added that KJC's lawyer, Charmelou Aldevera, “called two days ago to check on their case.”

The police chief mentioned that KJC members visited the detained suspects to show their support and expressed willingness to help them post bail.

"They are waiting for all their cases to hit court to post bail for all of them," Caouile said.

GMA News Online tried to reach Aldevera through the Davao City Water District (DCWD), where she serves as director, but the lawyer was in a meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

The seven ambulant vendors had earlier denied KJC's involvement in the selling of the expired candies, but admitted that they are members of the group.

In another interview, Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino, who heads the police task force in charge of the food poisoning case, they could not proceed with their investigation until the Food and Drug Administration releases its analysis of the allegedly expired durian- and mangosteen-flavored candies.

"Hindi pa kami makakilos habang wala pang results. Pending pa ang lahat," he said, adding the results may be released within the week. —KBK, GMA News