Milk tea kills 2 in Manila in 3 minutes; police can’t say what happened

“Too fast, too quick and too fatal.” And they only sipped milk tea.

Two people are dead after sipping milk tea with a powder flavoring called “Hokkaido” in a Manila eatery. A third victim is recovering and the police are investigating.

Dr. Benjamin Yson, head of the city health department of Manila, said the incident happened “too fast, too quick and too fatal” that the victims were not able to leave the premises of ErgoCha Milk Tea House on Bustillos Street in Sampaloc for the hospital right away.

On Thursday, within three minutes of consuming the Hokkaido-flavored milk tea that he himself had prepared, shop owner William Abrigo collapsed on the floor of the eatery.

He later died at Ospital ng Sampaloc.

Earlier, before Abrigo collapsed, customer Suzaine Dagohoy and her boyfriend Arnold Aydalla had complained the milk tea that Abrigo had served them was foul-tasting.

This prompted the store owner to taste the drink.

Dagohoy died two hours after Abrigo had collapsed, according to the police. Aydalla was later described as in a stable condition.

Imported tea leaves

Milk tea was considered the biggest food or beverage trend in 2011 as tea shops have sprouted all over the Metro. Most milk tea shops originated from China and Taiwan, where ingredients such as the tea leaves are shipped to give an authentic taste. A regular milk tea is made of tea powder or syrup, milk and pearls (sago).

Asked yesterday if lack of sanitation at the place was a possible cause of the deaths, Yson said those who suffered from poor sanitation usually experienced diarrhea, vomiting and an upset stomach—circumstances that were absent in the cases.

“But until we have the results of the specimens sent to the BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs), we can’t really say what happened,” Yson told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

According to SPO2 Jonathan Bautista, Dagohoy and Aydalla were Abrigo’s first customers that day in his 10-square-meter stall.

The police officer said Abrigo’s help, Joseph Garnacio, had been told to make the drinks but during the time of the incident, Garnacio was sent out by his employer so he could have lunch.

Garnacio returned three minutes after Dagohoy had collapsed.

Closed-circuit TV

Based on the closed-circuit television camera footage obtained by the authorities from the shop and shown to reporters on Friday, Dagohoy and Aydalla arrived at 10:42 a.m. and ordered an extra large glass of milk tea from Abrigo.

While preparing the drink, Abrigo was seen seemingly explaining to the couple the process of making the milk tea.

Minutes after the order had been placed, Abrigo gave the drink to Dagohoy, who then handed it to Aydalla.

Another drink

At 10:51 a.m., Aydalla took a sip of the milk tea and immediately spat it out. Dagohoy also spat out the drink after her boyfriend handed it to her.

A minute later, Abrigo grabbed the plastic wares in which the ingredients of the drink had been kept and appeared to be explaining to the pair that the ingredients had been stored well.

Nonetheless, Abrigo prepared another drink for the pair while Aydalla left to buy candy, Bautista said.

Two minutes after taking a sip of the drink, Dagohoy had her hands on her forehead appearing to be disoriented. A minute later she was already on the floor.

Abrigo, on the other hand, continued to make the drink, apparently unaware of what happened to Dagohoy.

It was only at 10:57 a.m., when he brought the milk tea, to the couple when Abrigo saw that Dagohoy was already unconscious.

Police probe

The store owner then himself took a sip of the drink. By then, Aydalla appeared to be disoriented.

A minute later, Abrigo slumped to the floor, where he was seen by his help Garnacio.

Police said that Dagohoy died at 3:36 p.m., while Abrigo died at 5:40 p.m.

Yson said the police had already revoked the health and sanitary permit of the year-old establishment pending an investigation. He said the establishment just received its renewed sanitary permit on March 13.

Yson said the store, which stands beside a welding shop, appeared to have complied with the requirements, such as having potable water.

Bautista said the city health department expected to have the results of the BFAD examination next week to determine what it was that killed the victims so that appropriate charges could be filed.

Since Abrigo also died, Bautista said the families of Dagohoy and Aydalla could file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injury against Abrigo’s wife, Adela, who is the registered owner of the shop.

 Originally posted: 7:38 PM | Friday, April 10th, 2015

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