Birthday revelry ends in death of buddies after drinking lambanog

The gathering of four drinking buddies in Rizal town, Laguna for a birthday party turned out to be their last after their consumption of lambanog led to methanol poisoning.

According to a Monday report on 24 Oras, Ricky Vitangcol, Cenon Piedra, Marlon Veridiano, and Jason Navarozza died after drinking the distilled palm liquor.

Their bereaved families are lamenting the dark Christmas ahead of them after the deaths of their loved ones.

“Magpapasko pa naman e nagkaganyan ka. Parang 'di ko maintindihan. Parang trahedyang 'di ko mawari,” Piedra’s sister Evelyn added.

Veridiano’s relatives said he had merely stopped by the party for a while after he was invited by his friends.

“Napakasakit. Napakahirap tanggapin ng lahat sa aking anak,” his mother said. “Utak agad ang tinira sa kanya. Talaga pong tumitirik ang mata niya.”

“Ang hiyaw niya'y 'Nanay! Ayaw ko pang mamatay,’” she recalled.

Many residents of Rizal town who drank lambanog have already gone to the Rizal Infirmary Unit for a check-up after displaying symptoms of possible methanol poisoning.

“If ever meron pa po kaming kababayan or kahit galing sa nearby municipality na nakainom ng lambanog, as soon as possible habang wala pa kayong nararamdaman na signs or symptoms, pumunta na kaagad kayo dito sa center,” Rizal municipal health officer John Gangay advised.

As of Monday night, a total of 12 deaths have already been recorded due to lambanog consumption, which led to methanol poisoning.

The Food and Drug Administration has called on sellers and consumers of lambanog to ensure that their products are duly registered. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News