ZAMBOANGA CITY, 28 July 2004 — At least 51 children were poisoned and brought to hospital overnight after eating dried seeds from an herbal plant used by quack doctors to cure abdominal pain, officials and witnesses said.
The children, all grade school students from a small village called Cabatangan, were vomiting and many had complained of abdominal pain.
“They were in so much pain, the children were vomiting after eating the seeds,” Edwina Francisco, the village chieftain, said.
Francisco also went to the radio station DZRZ-Radyo Agong and appealed for help and medicines, saying, many more were still in the village.
“Please help us, we need help, there are many children who ate the seeds,” Mrs. Francisco said.
from tangan-tangan plant after one student told them that it tasted like roasted peanuts. The plant is widely sold in market sidewalks and traditionally used by quack doctors to cure gas pain.
The radio station also played a tape recorded interview from one of the victim, who claimed to have eaten the seeds upon the prodding of friends.
“Our classmate gave us the seeds and he said it taste delicious, just like roasted peanuts and so we all ate, but I vomited hours later and my stomach is so painful,” said the victim, who was not identified.
The chief of the local city health office Dr. Rodel Agbulos, said they were still studying the plant and would also send samples to Manila for further laboratory tests to determine whether the seeds contain toxic substance.
“The seeds contain resin and other substance, but we are still conducting laboratory tests. We were just lucky that the kids ate little of those tangan-tangan seeds. A large quantity would surely kill them,” he told Arab News.
Nurses at the Zamboanga City Medical Center said most of the children were given first aid and dextrose water because of severe dehydration.
