Ten of over 200 students in Sibalom, Antique are still confined in two hospitals, as of Monday, July 7, 2025.

Eight of the students are admitted at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital, while two are at the Ramon Maza, Sr. Memorial Hospital.

According to the spokesperson of Task Force Pis-anan, it was at the Senior High School Building where the foul fumes could have started. Other students from Pis-anan Central School who inhaled the foul odor may have passed through Pis-anan National High School.

The source of the stench has not been determined yet based on the investigation.

The farmer who reportedly admitted to have sprayed pesticide is not anymore a part of the investigation, as his rice field is located about a kilometer away from the said schools.

“Sa totoo lang, dyan lang talaga sa national high school. Siguro ang batang nabiktima doon sa elementary school, napadaan lang sa national high school. So far, under investigation pa and we are looking for witnesses pa,” Rodel Esler, information officer of the Unified Incident Command Center, said.

Meanwhile, collection of specimens from the school premises has been completed.

Suspension of face-to-face classes continues, as of posting time. Resumption of in-person classes is expected to take a longer time.

“Tayo sa DepEd, we will make sure na patuloy ang pag-aaral ng ating mga bata. Mare-resume lang ang ating in-person class once meron ng clearance coming from the LGU [Local Government Unit],” according to Hernani Escullar Jr., spokesperson of the Department of Education 6.   

To recall, over 200 individuals, mostly students, were rushed to the hospital in Sibalom town, Province of Antique after complaining of shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, and dizziness on July 2, 2025.

The patients complained of dizziness after they inhaled foul fumes while at Pis-anan National High School at about 7 a.m. on July 2, 2025. 

The students described the stench to resemble that of rotten guava fruit.