The Department of Health is now conducting examinations to determine what caused the diarrhea outbreak that downed more than 900 inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Monday.
Aguirre reported that out of 900 inmates, 600 were brought to the NBP hospital for treatment, 59 of them are still confined at the prison’s infirmary.
The Justice Secretary said he would not speculate on what could have caused the outbreak as the Bureau of Corrections is also conducting its own investigation on the matter.
“We would rather wait for the results of the test to be conducted by the Department of Health. Investigation is also being conducted to know what really happened and what is the cause? Was it the food or the water? he added.
Aguirre said he would personally check on the condition of the inmates and deliver medicines, energy drinks and bananas to help them recover fast.
“The health of the inmates is a paramount consideration,” Aguirre said.
Sought for an update, BuCor chief Benjamin delos Santos said the “proximate cause is the food served” to the inmates although he stressed that investigations are still ongoing.
“We shall be conducting food and water testing at the main kitchen,” he added.
Aguirre said most of the inmates affected by food poising were those detained at the maximum compound while none of the high-profile inmates were affected.