JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday disclosed that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ruling out sabotage in its ongoing investigation into the lambanog (coconut wine) poisoning incidents in Southern Luzon that killed more than 20 people and hospitalized more than 300 others.
Guevarra said the sabotage angle was scratched out by the NBI in its preliminary report submitted to his office. He, however, said other charges could still be filed against the manufacturers of the locally distilled alcoholic drink.
The NBI is basing its report on the information from its agents gathered from the victims, those who were hospitalized, and relatives of those who died after allegedly drinking lambanog.
“The NBI did not find any basis for a willful sabotage angle,” Guevarra said.
“What the NBI has so far is a preliminary report. The NBI has to identify the culprits and charge them accordingly…. The NBI is still in the process of identifying the manufacturers of the toxic liquor and preparing the appropriate charges against them,” the justice secretary added.
Guevarra explained that the NBI did not find any third party who would deliberately attempt to ruin the businesses of lambanog makers.
He noted that “sabotage pertains to the participation of persons other than the manufacturers or distillers of the liquor to willfully ruin the trade.”
Guevarra said the NBI is looking into the possible of filing reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and/or serious physical injuries, and/or violation of the food and drugs law against those responsible for the incident.
The NBI is expected to wrap up its investigation on the incident by January.
It was reported that the victims consumed lambanog that were tested positive for methanol, a toxic substance that attacks the internal organs when ingested.
1 comment
Whoever insinuated a sabotage?.Who is sabotaging and what is being sabotaged?The lambanog industry has been here for generations. It is a cultural alak in coconut producing region, just like potato whisky among the moonshining hillbilly americans. The lambanog deaths were the making of greedy profiteering backyard processor who adulterated the product with harmful active chemical (methanol.or formalin) to hasten the curing of mass profuction to beat the demand season without depressing the price. Find the culprits and burn them with lambanog alcohol.