Davao City (CNN Philippines) — The manufacturer of Wendy’s Durian Candy appeared before the Talomo Police here in Davao City Friday afternoon to clear their involvement in the food poisoning in Surigao del Sur on Thursday (July 10 PHT) that downed hundreds of students, mostly elementary, after eating durian candy bearing their product’s name.
A certain Janet Aquino, whose durian candy shop is located in Maa, appeared before the Davao police station to clarify that they are not behind the selling of their products in Surigao del Sur.
Aquino said it is highly possible that their durian candies were re-packed and then re-sold by the seven arrested vendors.
Related: Hundreds hospitalized due to candy poisoning in Surigao del Sur
The manufacturer said their durian candies have only six months shelf life and the ones distributed in Surigao del Sur could have already expired.
The manufacturer admitted though that they have bulk buyers from Surigao but could not say for certain if the arrested vendors are their buyers.
Grace Tranquilan of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Surigao del Sur said that seven people were arrested by the police in relation to the food poisoning. She said that five of the suspects are in Cagwait PNP while two others are in Tandag City PNP.
The arrested suspects in Cagwait were identified as Richard Rivera Jr., Junnil Teriote, John Dequilla, Joel Pasa, and Martinez Bocaycay. All are residents of Calinan, Davao City. An L300 van with plate number MEM-366 used by the arrested suspects was also confiscated.
The arrested suspects in Tandag City were meanwhile identified as Genelyn Dorgas Pasa of Bucana Boulevard, Davao City and Henrito Bitco Amoguis of Valencia, Bukidnon.
Tranquilan said the confiscated candies bear the name “Wendy’s Durian” and “Mangosteen Delicious Candy”.
Also read: Duterte coordinates with Surigao officials on durian candy poisoning
Hundreds of students, mostly elementary, were confirmed to have been poisoned when they ate durian and mangosteen candies Friday morning.
Tranquilan stated that in Cagwait town alone, about two hundred people mostly students suffered from vomiting and dizziness upon eating the candy which was being peddled by vendors.
The candies were said to have been sold at a very cheap price thus many students availed of it. In some areas, the candies were said to be given for free.
At least six towns of Surigao del Sur were said to be affected. Food poisoning were also reported in the towns of Lianga, San Agustin, Tago, and Marihatag, and the city of Tandag.
Hospitals and clinics of the affected towns were said to be full of patients as of this posting.
Some of the affected schools are the Cagwait Central Elementary School, Aras-asan Elementary School, Unidad Elementary School, Unidad National High School, and Surigao del Sur State University.
