A seven-year-old boy died while more than a hundred others fell ill and landed in three hospitals in the province after attending a wedding banquet in Sitio Ilaud, barangay Sta. Cruz, Batuan town last Saturday.

The wedding feast turned grim after well-wishers and relatives of the newly-weds Joel Lumay and Arsenia Payot complained of gastro-intestinal pains and vomiting after they partook in the prepared lunch following the wedding.

The casualty was identified as Gino Payot, a first-cousin of the bride. He was rushed to the Congressman Simeon Torribio Memorial Hospital in the nearby town of Carmen where he expired from gastroenteritis and severe dehydration resulting from persistent vomiting and loose bowel movement (LBM).

Thirty-nine others were admitted to the same hospital in Carmen while two were brought to the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital and another two are confined at the Saint Jude Hospital, this city. The victims included 2 one-year old infants.

In an interview with the Chronicle, Dr. Adulfo Quaresma, chief of Torribio memorial hospital, bared that 77 others who attended the banquet were examined and consequently discharged from the hospital after doctors pronounced their condition to be safe. As of presstime, eight of the outpatients went back to the hospital for follow-up examination having been alarmed of the death of Payot.

In a separate interview with the Chronicle, Batuan municipal health officer Dr. Pacita Madamba suspects two causes for the illness and the consequent death of Payot. Madamba says it was possible that ingredients of the food prepared for the reception could have been spoiled or the victims could have drunk contaminated water. She, however, ruled out any possibility that there might be foul play on the part of those who prepared the food since most of them were close relatives of the groom.

A medical team from the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) rushed to Batuan to ascertain the cause of the ailments. They were able to take samples of the food from the reception and the drinking water for laboratory examination in Cebu city.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) also dispatched a medical team bringing additional medicines, dextrose and oral hydrates to the Torribio memorial hospital.

Vice Mayor Severino Sumampong, who is acting-mayor of Batuan since Mayor Sixto Dano is in the United States, called an emergency meeting yesterday morning with the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC).

The municipality's Sangguniang Bayan (SB), presided over by acting Vice Mayor Aries Polinar, also convened yesterday afternoon and was able to pass a resolution declaring their town in a state of calamity.

In an interview with the Chronicle, Sumampong bared that they have to place the town under such state to be able to tap the calamity fund of their municipality.

Sumampong also disclosed that the parents of the fatality were willing to get to the bottom of the poisoning incident by consenting that their son (Gino) be autopsied by probers from the DOH regional office.

Further inquiries made by municipal authorities revealed that the bride's mother, Prima Payot, was quoted saying that the cook, Arimatea Peñarejo, 59, "imposed restrictions to enter the cooking area."

Prima Payot also observed that "two canned goods (green peas), opened by the cook, one of which had a foul odor was used in the food preparation."

Sumampong said that the municipal government would assist in the investigation conducted by the DOH and will provide financial aid to the victims.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office provided a complete list of the victims of the food poisoning as follows: Leppy Amolo, Beinvenido Ancog, Erika Anub, Christopher Baluca, Crislyn Baluca, Ermar Baluca, Georgie Baluca, Ireneo Baluca, Neca Baluca, Jimmy Cantaros, Avelina Jamil, Madeline Jamil, Mylene Jamil, Narcisa Jamil, Aiza Llano, Lita Llano, Marcelo Llano, Oliver Llano, Victor Ocho, Eutiquio Palingcod, Josefina Payag, Allan Payot, Claudia Payot, Dina Payot, Eufemo Payot, Evangeline Payot, Jennifer Payot, Lita Payot, Liza Payot, Ramon Payot, Edwin Penarijo, Emerenciana Quiño, Marilou Quiño, Antonio Sambayon, Zenaida Sumampong, Gemmalyn Vicentino, Jomar Vicentino, Marcela Vicentino.

The two who are confined at GCGMH: Margie Igcol and Anito Payot While Larry Jale and Mamerto Calamunggay are admitted at St. Jude Hospital. (With reports from Kit Bagaipo and Ric Obedencio)