Milk tea food poisoning incident recalled by Pinoys amid ‘2026 is the new 2016’ trend

January 19, 2026 – 6:22 PM

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A past milk tea food poisoning incident in

Manila

has resurfaced as part of the “2026 is the new 2016” nostalgia trend.

Beyond photos, some participants also recalled stories or events that made a buzz during that year or around the same period.

One of these is the milk tea incident in April 2015.

Online Filipinos revisited the incident in Sampaloc, Manila, which drew attention after two people died and another was hospitalized.

“Sampung taon na ang lumipas. Tahimik na ang kanto sa Bustillos, Sampaloc. Wala na ang milk tea shop. Wala na ang tarpaulin. Wala na ang pila. Pero kung titigil ka sandali, parang may naiwan pa ring bigat sa hangin,” the page said.

The page then recounted the incident that claimed the lives of

William Abrigo,

owner of the ErgoCha milk tea shop, and

Suzaine Dagohoy,

a customer who had ordered a Hokkaido-flavored milk tea.

It also left

Arnold Aydalla,

Dagohoy’s boyfriend, hospitalized.

“Sampung taon na ang lumipas, pero ang aral ay pareho pa rin: sa isang iglap, puwedeng magbago ang lahat. At minsan, ang pinakaordinaryong bagay — isang inumin sa gitna ng araw — ang nagiging simula ng isang trahedyang hindi na mabubura ng panahon,” the page captioned its post.

“11 years ago na pala ‘to. Baka may nakakaalala pa sa inyo [nito], after mabalita ‘to, katakot takot na ko makabili ng milk tea,” the Redditor said on Sunday, January 18.

Food poisoning incident

On April 9, 2015, Dagohoy and Aydalla brought a Hokkaido-flavored drink from the ErgoCha milk tea shop on Bustillos Street in Sampaloc.

Aydalla was the first to take a sip and complained of its unpleasant taste. Dagohoy, who was thirsty, drank more and later collapsed, her mouth frothing.

Afterwards, they handed the drink to William Abrigo, who personally prepared the couple’s order and insisted it did not taste foul. He also drank from it and later collapsed.

Dagohoy and William were rushed to the hospital but died the same day. Aydalla, who had consumed less than the two, survived after receiving treatment.

The case named

Lloyd Kevin Abrigo

, son of William Abrigo, as the suspect. A shop assistant said that Lloyd brought a foul-smelling liquid into the store prior to the fatal incident.

The liquid was later identified as oxalic acid, a poisonous, colorless substance found in bleaches, metal cleaners, anti-rust products, and rhubarb leaves.

Symptoms of oxalic acid poisoning include drooling, collapse, seizures, shock, chest pain, vomiting, and throat pain that can lead to difficulty breathing.

Lloyd was later cleared of murder and frustrated murder charges after the court found no evidence that he was responsible for mixing the milk tea or had a motive.

Redditor

wrote.

“I remember this incident and ilang beses akong pinagsabihan ng parents ko na huwag na huwag bibili ng milk tea nang dahil sa incident na ‘yun, [plus], kakaunti at nagsisimula pa lang na dumami ang mga milk tea shops,” another

“I remember not drinking milk tea for years dahil dito,” a different

Redditor

“Naalala ko din ito kaya pinagbawalan kami ni mama mag-milk tea HAHAHAHA,” another

wrote

“Grabe, naalala ko ‘to. Ito ‘yung isa sa mga rason bakit [takot] na ‘yung iba uminom ng milk tea,” a different

Redditor

In December 2015, the Manila Police District

asked

the Department of Justice to overturn a local prosecutor’s ruling that dismissed criminal complaints against Lloyd.

The police said Lloyd “destroyed the crime scene” by asking a helper to clean the pitcher used to mix the deadly milk tea.

Lloyd repeatedly denied the charges, insisting that he returned to the store only to secure it after the incident.