2 Chinese in jet tiff deported

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines—The two Chinese tourists involved in a mid-flight scuffle with the brother-in-law of President Benigno Aquino III on board a Cebu Pacific flight to Cebu on Saturday were immediately ordered deported by the Bureau of Immigration.

The two, who turned out to be part of a group of 12 travel writers invited by the Department of Tourism to promote the country, were scheduled to be put on a plane back to Beijing on Sunday night.

Although no criminal complaint had been filed against the two, Commissioner Ricardo David ordered their immediate departure and inclusion in the bureau’s blacklist, BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang said in a text message.

She said the two were scheduled to depart Sunday at 7:35 p.m. from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The two, identified only as Han Yang, 33 and Mailiyasi, 31, were held by police at the Mactan Cebu International Airport after one of them reportedly collared Eldon Cruz, husband of Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz, elder sister of President Aquino.

According to reports, the two media men were walking up and down the aisle taking pictures of the flight attendants who were explaining the mechanics of the inflight fun games.

This reportedly unnerved Cruz who reportedly told them to be careful because they could hit someone with their cameras.

One of the Chinese photographers reportedly grabbed Eldon by the collar, saying “why” and “sh__.” Eldon then reportedly elbowed the Chinese. Other Filipino passengers then reportedly started shouting at the Chinese, urging their arrest.

Guests of tourism department

Rowena Montecillo, DOT director for Central Visayas, said the media tour included online travel writers who were in the country on the invitation of the DoT to promote Manila and Cebu in China. They arrived in Manila on Thursday and stayed in the capital for two days before proceeding to Cebu on Saturday where they were scheduled to stay for another two days.

She hoped the controversy would not affect the country’s tourism program in China.

She added that the 10 companions of Yang and Mailiyasi proceeded with their tour of Cebu and were scheduled to leave for Manila on Monday night to board a flight back to Beijing on Tuesday.

“The DoT through our Team China continues to look for opportunities to promote the country by inviting groups that can help promote the country,” Montecillo said.

Colleagues stayed with them

Yang and Mailiyasi were detained after the plane landed at the Mactan airport at 9:15 a.m. Their companions stayed at the airport while waiting for the outcome of the investigation. They didn’t want to leave their two colleagues who were being investigated, the DoT official said.

Montecillo said the 10 others didn’t really know what happened because they didn’t see the incident.

They obliged when told they had to stay at the airport pending resolution of the investigation but they complained of the inconvenience of having to stay at the airport for seven hours.

She said the DoT staff served the group lunch.

They stayed at the airport up to 5 p.m. when Yang and Mailiyasi were escorted by immigration intelligence officers to a Cebu Pacific flight back to Manila.

Language barrier

“They didn’t know what was happening. They didn’t want to leave their colleagues,” she said. She added that they had to assure them that Yang and Mailiyasi would be okay.

Montecillo said the investigation took longer due to the language barrier. The two Chinese media men did not speak English. The investigators had to get an interpreter.

The two were reportedly quiet during the investigation. They didn’t admit to anything and claimed they didn’t understand what was happening.

“They were apologetic,” Montecillo said.

Since the two kept mum on the incident, investigators had to rely on the testimony of the Cebu Pacific flight attendants. Cruz and her husband didn’t file a complaint.

Tour continues

After they left the airport, the 10 went ahead with their itinerary in Cebu. They toured Cebu’s landmarks such as Magellan’s Cross and went island-hopping, fish feeding, among others.

Foreign department spokesperson Raul Hernandez initially told reporters strong action was needed to deter troublesome visitors. “We welcome anyone who visits our country (but) we don’t need tourists who are rude, violent and ill-mannered,” he said.

Later, Hernandez told the Inquirer the foreign office “has not received any report on the incident,” adding that it was being handled by the police and airport authorities.

Chinese embassy spokesperson Sun Yi downplayed the incident, saying it was a “misunderstanding” and that both sides had settled the matter.

“The issue has been addressed appropriately,” he said without elaborating.

The Philippines has been trying to repair its image with Chinese and Hong Kong travellers after a bus hijacking tragedy in Manila in August left eight Hong Kong tourists dead. With a report from Jerome Aning; AFP