Some of the dogs, cats and chickens that were fed the same sea turtle also died, Irene Dilla, a local official, told the BBC. She added that authorities are investigating the cause of death.
The sea turtle was cooked as adobo, a popular Filipino dish consisting of meat and vegetables stewed in vinegar and soy sauce.
Residents of the coastal town of Datu Blah Sinsuat, known for its white sand beaches and clear water, often get their food from the sea. “It was a shame because their village has so much other seafood – lobster, fish,” Ms Dilla said.
Most of the residents who were hospitalized have since been discharged, local media reported, while the three who died were immediately buried – in line with local tradition.
Datu Mohammad Sinsuat Jr, a local councilor, said he had ordered local authorities to strictly enforce the ban on sea turtle hunting in the region, vowing that “this food poisoning incident will never happen again”.
Most sea turtle species are classified as endangered and it is illegal to collect, harm or kill any of them in the Philippines. However, in some cultures, sea turtles are hunted for their meat and eggs, which are believed to have medicinal properties.
In 2013, 68 people in the Philippines’ Eastern Samar province got sick — and four of them died — after eating a sea turtle found near their village.
