‘Brewing process may have caused milk tea deaths’

The lawyers of the son of a milk tea shop owner in Sampaloc, Manila where two people died last month are bent on proving the innocence of their client, stressing that oxalic acid found in the fatalities’ remains may have been a result of the tea brewing process.

Oxalic acid is a known cleaning and bleaching agent that is mixed with water to form a solution. Research says oxalic acid is naturally found in some plants and vegetables such as in spinach and rhubarb.

This developed even as authorities are also out to pursue charges of murder and frustrated murder against Lloyd Abrigo before the Manila Prosecutor’s office.

“If the acid (Oxalic) was indeed placed there by a person, then that is murder but if the acid is the effect of the brewing of the tea, then there is no intention; that is reckless,” lawyer Benedict Buenaventura said.

Buenaventura said they may have to present a laboratory evidence to prove to the court that oxalic acid could be a result of brewing tea.

Buenaventura said they will study the complaint as soon as they receive a copy of the subpoena.

A police source, however, said there is a strong case against Abrigo.

Last April 9, the owner of Ergo cha milk tea store, William Abrigo and customer Suzaine Dagohoy died after ingesting a milk tea concoction.

On May 8, the medico-legal report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime laboratory report was released indicating that the cause of deaths of William Abrigo and Dagohoy were due to ingestion of oxalic acid.