KALIBO, Philippines - Some 13 fishermen in Central Philippines were believed to have been poisoned by rare fish species in Mabilo village, Kalibo in Aklan province Monday morning, a local official said.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are currently investigating the incident and if the fish species they ate were poisonous, an official with the BFAR said.

The fishermen are working in the netting project of the BFAR. The fishermen said there were around 30 of them who ate the fish but only 13 of them were hospitalized.

All of the 13 victims suffered allergy like reactions such as stomach ache, drowsiness, skin irritation among others. Some of them were confined in the hospital while others were placed in an out patient department.