Two of 8 critically ill after drinking lambanog in Laguna fight for their lives

Two of the eight critically ill patients brought to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) after drinking lambanog were fighting for their lives on Monday, according to a report on GMA News' Unang Balita.

Due to the toxicity of the lambanog they drank, the two were unstable due to complications. They also needed to be intubated, attached to a ventilator, and had to undergo dialysis, a hospital official said.

Eight residents of Rizal, Laguna died while 129 others were hospitalized after drinking the distilled palm liquor known as lambanog, Super Radyo dzBB reported on Sunday.

The number of ill patients brought to PGH has reached 164 as of Monday.

Of that total number, however, only 68 remain at PGH. The other patients were transferred to East Avenue Medical Center and Rizal Medical Center.

Of the 68 patients remaining at PGH, eight were still critical, 31 needed urgent care, and 29 were considered non-urgent.

Rizal, Laguna Mayor Vener Muñoz has already declared a state of emergency in order to access funds with which to help the victims.

Muñoz said the ill patients drank lambanog at Christmas parties.

"Kanya-kanyang Christmas party. Ngayon, iisa ang binilhan na tindahan. Galing daw sa Candelaria, Quezon... Kasi mayroong umaangkat na taga-amin," he said.

Lambanog is made from coconut. It produces methanol during initial fermentation. The problem starts when there is more methanol ingested, said PGH spokesperson Jonas del Rosario.

As a result of the incident, Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez has issued an order banning the selling of lambanog in the whole province.

All hospitals in Rizal, Laguna were also placed on red alert. —KG, GMA News