Son of tea shop owner tagged in poisoning incident says he’s the victim

The son of the owner of Ergo Cha milk tea house on Tuesday maintained his innocence, as he faced the Manila Prosecutor's Office over the murder charges filed against him in connection with the deaths of his father and one of their customers over poisoning.

Lloyd Abrigo said he was the victim after being implicated in the incident by the shop's assistant.

A Balitanghali report quoted Abrigo as saying that the charges against him are "baseless" and "irresponsible."

"Ako ay nalulungkot dahil kami na ang namatayan, ako pa ang pinaghihinalaang gumawa nito. There's no reason for me to kill my father because we have a good relationship," he said.

The Manila Police District earlier said that Abrigo is facing two counts of murder and frustrated murder.

Abrigo's lawyers were unable to submit a counter affidavit to the charges filed against their client during the preliminary hearing, arguing that they have yet to receive a copy of the closed-circuit television footage of the incident.

Last April, customers Suzaine Dagohoy and Arnold Aydalla felt weak and fainted minutes after sipping a milk tea drink served them by Ergo Cha shop owner, William Abrigo, the suspect's father.

Abrigo then sipped on the drink that he had prepared to find out what was wrong with the tea, poisoning himself as well.

The three were then rushed to a hospital but Abrigo and Dagohoy later died.

The younger Abrigo had earlier denied bringing a foul-smelling liquid into the store before the incident as claimed by shop's assistant.

Police authorities said the remains of the tea shop owner and Dagohoy tested positive for oxalic acid, a colorless bleaching substance.

The Balitanghali report also said that Aydalla is convinced that the younger Abrigo is to be blamed for the poisoning incident.

Aydalla and his girlfriend's bother, Frederick, were both in attendance at the preliminary hearing.

Another hearing is set on June 9. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KBK, GMA News