PhilRootcrops released its official statement on the alleged cassava poisoning incident in Mabini, Bohol in an interview with ABS-CBN Cebu on March 14, 2005.
The official statement was finally concluded after a team of scientists from the Center conducted an independent investigation to the death of 27 elementary school children of Brgy. San Jose, Mabini, Bohol on March 11. The death was allegedly due to poisoning from a cassava-based food (local term maruya) sold by certain Mrs. Anita Luyong, the vendor.
The Center generally sums up that the poisoning was not due to the inherent hydrocyanic acid (HCN) content of the cassava from which the food was made from.
The team who conducted the investigation is composed of Dr. Marcelo Quevedo-postharvest physiologist, Dr. Julie Tan, food technologist, Ms. Cynthia Godoy, research chemist, Prof. Alan Loreto, extensionist, and Mr. Reynaldo Bergantin, plant breeder.