12 Chinese nabbed after scuffle with Ballsy Aquino's group

Twelve Chinese nationals were arrested after two of them figured in an altercation with the group of President Benigno Aquino III's sister Maria Elena "Ballsy" Aquino-Cruz on a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Cebu province. Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Philippine National Police spokesman, identified two of the Chinese passengers as Han Yan, 31, and a certain “Mailiyasi," 33. Authorities said passengers of Cebu Pacific's 5J-563 flight were participating in the airline's usual onboard game when the two Chinese became “unruly," resulting in an altercation "between the offended party of Ms. Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and the Chinese nationals." It was not immediately clear who among Ballsy’s companions figured in the scuffle. Ballsy is the President’s eldest sister. The Chinese were immediately taken into police custody after the plane landed at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City. "Mr. [Pete] Prado — former [Transportation and Communications] secretary and now chief of staff of Ms. Ballsy Cruz — who was also on board the said aircraft instructed [authorities] to hold the group and file necessary charges," Cruz said. — Mark D. Merueñas/JE, GMA News