One Direction coming to Manila minus Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik, one of the members of the popular British boy band, One Direction, will not be making the trip to Manila.

 

"Zayn has been signed off with stress and is flying back to the UK to recuperate. The band wish him well and will continue with their performances in Manila and Jakarta," Publicist Simon Jones said on Twitter Thursday night (PHL time).

 

A separate report on Entertainment Weekly said Malik had missed tour dates and appearances several times before, including the band's performance in Perth, Australia due to illness.

 

In the Philippines, Malik is one of two band members at the center of a controversy over a cash bond the Bureau of Immigration required the band's concert organizers to pay.

 

The BI said Thursday the bond is a requirement for the promoter to secure a Special Work Permit for the band.

 

“The imposition of cash bond was pursuant to the referral of the Anti-Drugs Advocate, Laban ng Pamilyang Pilipino, Inc. (ADA), requesting for strict scrutiny of applicants for SWP, particularly those with purported links to drug use,” said BI spokesperson Elaine Tan.

 

BI said the referral was based on viral videos of Malik and Louis Tomlinson smoking marijuana.

 

Malik and Tomlinson were directed to post cash bonds of P200,000 each. The amount will be forfeited if they commit any immigration violation, are caught using illegal drugs, or otherwise promote the use of drugs.

 

Also, Tan said the band will be prevented from performing during the scheduled concert dates on March 21 and 22, "should the producer fail to post the cash bond prior to those dates.”  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News