The municipal council of Siaton, Negros Oriental is set to summon authorities that could help shed light on the deaths of three children and the confinement of three others in the hospital due to alleged chemical poisoning.
Councilor Salome Lagos, chair of the Committees on Appropriation and Environment of the Siaton town council, said that to be summoned are Municipal Health Officer Dr. Mitylene Tan, the chief of police, Barangay Maloh chairperson Norping Bon and representatives from the municipal agriculture’s office.
Initial reports said that Wednesday last week, the children had gone swimming at the Maloh River and on Thursday were already vomiting and exhibited signs of weakness.
Three of them were brought to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete for treatment. They were identified as siblings Randy, 13, Ramil, 4 and Recel, 3, all surnamed Tabilon.
Their two other siblings, Sandy, 8 and Ranmil, 6, and their cousin, Justine Bahandi, 3, succumbed to a still unknown cause.
Councilor Lagos said town officials have yet to investigate the incident even amid reports that chemical sprays used for mangoes could have triggered the symptoms.
Unverified reports say that sprayers or containers of the said chemicals were cleaned out at the Maloh River, Lagos added. (PNA)
