Davao City (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine National Police has created a special inter-agency investigation task group (SIITG) to probe a durian candy poisoning incident in the Caraga Region that downed almost 2,000 individuals, mostly students, last Friday (July 10).
SIITG Durian Candy is composed of representatives from Philippine National Police regional offices in Southern Mindanao and the Caraga Region, the Department of Health, the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of Trade and Industry, and local government agencies.
Chief Supt. Wendy Rosario, director of Police Regional Office 11, which covers the Davao Region, said the group is headed by Senior Supt. Aaaron Aquino, deputy director for regional operations.
The group, together with representatives from the Davao City Business Bureau and the Food and Drug Administration, already conducted an inspection at the factory of Wendy’s Durian Candy in People’s Village, Ma-a, Davao City on Monday morning (July 13) and samples were collected for more tests.
The Business Bureau also served the notice of suspension of the business permit of Wendy’s Durian on the order of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, who is currently the acting mayor.
Aquino, meanwhile, assured the public that the group would looking into all possible angles , including the possible involvement of the religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name, which is headed by evangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy.
Authorities said the L300 van used by the arrested ambulant vendors is owned by Quiboloy’s congregation. The suspects are also confirmed to be members of Quiboloy’s congregation.
Efforts to get an official statement from Quiboloy proved futile as of posting time as the evangelist was reportedly abroad.
