Two people were killed and another was poisoned after drinking milk tea bought from a shop in Manila, Philippines.
A couple, Suzanne Dagohoy and Arnold Aydalla bought their 'Hokkaido' flavored milk tea at Ergo Cha, a milk tea shop at around 11 a.m. on Thursday. As seen from a CCTV video in the area, Aydalla, 34, has tasted something unpleasant with his drink and spat it out. However, her girlfriend drank the tea because she was thirsty. They returned their drinks to shop owner, William So Abrigo, 57, who tasted it and said nothing was wrong with its taste.
Minutes after, Dagohoy, 28, fell unconscious when they were about to leave the store. Aydalla went to help his girlfriend but collapsed as well. When they were about to be rushed to a nearby hospital, the shop owner fell unconscious.
The three were rushed to the Ospital ng Sampaloc, where Dagohoy and Abrigo died. Aydalla is still being treated. Tricycle driver Rey Fernandez told investigators that he saw the victims' mouth frothing, reports Business News Asia.
Concerned citizens told police officers that they witnessed employees of the said shop throwing away their milk tea products in a canal after the incident, Journal PH reports. Investigators were able to get samples of the drinks and were sent to the Food and Drug Administration for analysis.
However, a recent report indicated that the analysis by the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Authority showed no signs of any posionous materials in the milk tea.
Meanwhile, the Daily Pedia reported that an employee of the shop, who asked to be anonymous, told police that they also received a complaint before. The incident happened when Abrigo's son would bring in a colorless chemical in the shop and he would always wear gloves when using it. He added that the smell of the chemical mimics the smell of the victims' drinks.
Milk Tea is a popular drink in the Philippines.