ZAMBOANGA CITY – The City Health Office (CHO) is looking into the death of two children and the hospitalization of their sibling after reportedly eating poisonous leaves which were boiled and served by their grandmother on Monday in Barangay Maasin here.
The CHO is looking into reports that the victims ate boiled leaves of a wild plant locally known as “Maria Maria” or “Baggong.”
The three children, sons of a certain Fatima Gaddung, were left in the care of their grandmother who reportedly suffers from mental illness.
After eating the boiled leaves, the one-year-old toddler immediately exhibited signs of choking and died while his brother, a three-year-old, passed away the following day.
The third boy, a seven-year-old child, is still in critical condition in a local hospital.
The father of the siblings left for Malaysia eight months ago and has not contacted the family since.
Dr. Dulce Miravite, City Health Officer, advised rural folks not to eat unidentified plants and herbs.