Criminal charges dropped vs milk tea poisoning suspect

The Manila prosecutor's office said there is no basis to file criminal charges against the son of the owner of a milk tea establishment who was the suspect in the alleged poisoning of two customers and his father, GMA News' Glen Juego of radio dzBB reported on Thursday.

Juego said the prosecutors found no motive for the suspect to poison the customers because he did not know them personally.

Ayon sa Manila prosecutor's office, walang sapat na basehan para kasuhan ang may-ari ng Ergo Cha Milk Tea house. @dzbb

— Glen Juego (@glenjuego) December 3, 2015

...wala naman umanong nakitang motibo sa may-ari ng milk tea house dahil hindi nito kilala ang magkasintahang biktima. @dzbb

— Glen Juego (@glenjuego) December 3, 2015

According to the police's initial investigation, Suzanne Dagohoy and Arnold Aydalla bought their drinks at Ergo Cha, a milk tea shop in Bustillos, Sampaloc at 11 a.m. on April 9.

Aydalla pointed out an unpleasant taste in his drink and made Dagohoy taste it before bringing it to the attention of the shop owner, William Abrigo, who personally prepared the couple's order, the report said.

After receiving the complaint, Abrigo reportedly replaced the straw to taste the drink himself.

Witnesses said Dagohoy collapsed first, her mouth frothing, as they left the store. Aydalla experienced the same thing, as did Abrigo, who succumbed a few minutes later.

The three were rushed to the Ospital ng Sampaloc, where Dagohoy and Abrigo died. Aydalla survived.

The Philippine National Police said the remains of the two people killed after drinking milk tea from the Ergo Cha milk tea shop in Manila have tested positive for a bleaching substance.

In a statement, the PNP said the remains of both William Abrigo, owner of Ergo Cha milk tea shop in Sampaloc, Manila, and customer Suzaine Dagohoy tested positive for oxalic acid, a "colorless substance [that] will not easily be determined when dissolved in water or beverages."

The PNP Crime Laboratory conducted forensic examinations after a post-mortem examination by the Manila Police District, which found that Dagohoy have have died due to "shock probably secondary to ingestion of toxic substance."

The PNP Crime Laboratory findings also confirmed results from the MPD examination, which found oxalic acid in the blood and stomach contents of Abrigo.

Murder and frustrated murder charges have been filed against Abrigo's son, Lloyd, whom a shop assistant implicated in the incident, saying he brought a foul-smelling liquid into the store before the incident.

The Manila Police District also explained that they suspected the tea shop's owner, Lloyd, to be responsible for the poisonings given that he had "cleaned" the crime scene right after the incident, before authorities had a chance conduct an investigatation.

A report on GMA-7's "24 Oras" said that a closed circuit television footage showed Lloyd arriving at the shop on April 9 after visiting his father at the Ospital ng Sampaloc in Manila.

The MPD added that Lloyd Abrigo turned off the CCTV camera inside the shop before cleaning the crime scene for around 15 minutes.

"Kung iisipin natin, during that time, sinira na agad ni Lloyd ang crime scene natin. At the same time, siguro dapat nandoon siya sa ospital para doon sa kanyang Tatay. Pero ang unang niyang ginawa is to clean up the mess sa loob ng Ergo milk tea," MPD Chief Legal Supt. Dennis Wagas said. 

In the video, a shop employee can be seen bringing out a pail.

"'Iyong ipinatapon na balde, iyon siguro ang mga galing sa pinagtimplahan ng tatay. Kasi iyong lababo nila barado kaya iyong mga tubig doon sa balde nilalagay," MPD Homicide Chief C/Insp. Melchor Villar pointed out.

In an interview with GMA News TV's Quick Response Team, the family's lawyer, Atty. Benedicto Buenaventura, pointed out that police investigators failed to look into the possible involvement of a store helper who may have had a motive to kill the shop owner William Abrigo.

"Nalulungkot po kami na na-file-an ng kaso si Lloyd [ang anak ni William]... kasi wala naman po silang malakas na ebidensya na nagpapatunay na si Lloyd ang may dala ng sinasabi nilang oxalic acid," explained Buenaventura.

Buenaventura added that CCTV footage referred to by the police did not show Lloyd bringing the oxalic acid into the tea shop.

"Hindi naimbestigahan masyado ng mga pulis iyong nangyari.... Iyong boy, hindi maganda ang performance. Laging lasing, laging tulog kapag nagdu-duty," Buenaventura said.

"May text messages kami na nagpapakita na si William Abrigo, tatanggalin na niya iyong boy," he added.

Buenaventura said the helper went into hiding.  — ELR, GMA News