Pastil, cooked rice down 9 in North Cotabato

PIKIT, North Cotabato (PNA) -- A contaminated pastil (steamed rice with minced chicken) reportedly downed a family of five from Pikit, North Cotabato after eating in a carenderia in Kabacan, North Cotabato, police said.Another family of four were also downed by a cooked riced believed to be contaminated, Senior Insp. Sindatu Karim, Pikit police chief, said.Citing report from villagers, Karim said the family who he did not identify were from the village of Polacion and went to Carmen, also in North Cotabato Sunday when they decided to take pastil, a Muslim food in Kabacan.Hours later, they complained of stomach pain and vomited. They were rushed to a private hospital. The victims suspected the pastil was spoiled.Also on Sunday, a family of four were hospitalized at Cruzado Medical Clinic in Poblacion Pikit, after eating dinner.Police report said the family of Panuga were rushed to the clinic after complaining of severe stomach disorders.Citing statement from the victims, Karim said they cooked a rice bought by a relative from the town public market and dined.Hours later, they suffered stomach pain and vomited.The police said investigation was still on going and the town health office had conducted laboratory tests of samples taken from the victims. (PNA)