2 Chinese journalists deported after manhandling Aquino’s brother-in-law

Two Chinese journalists were sent back to their country on Sunday after allegedly manhandling President Benigno Aquino III’s brother-in-law while on board a Cebu City-bound plane last Friday. Bureau of Immigration officials deported journalists Han Yang and Miliyasi after one of them reportedly grabbed Eldon Cruz, husband of Aquino’s sister Maria Elena “Ballsy" Aquino-Cruz, on the collar while en route to Cebu City on Friday morning, a “24 Oras" report said Sunday. The Chinese nationals, who were detained and investigated for seven hours in Manila, will also be banned from entering the country, the report added. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview that Cruz does not want to pursue a formal complaint against the foreign journalists. “I believe hindi na naman po nag-file ng complaint si Ma’am Ballsy at si Sir Eldon," she said in an interview over government-run radio dzRB. The couple were on their way to Cebu City last Friday to attend a wedding there when Cruz had a brush in with two of the 12 Chinese media men who were sharing the flight with them.

Cruz reportedly called the attention of the Chinese nationals for reportedly being rowdy when Han Yang and Miliyasi shouted at him and reportedly grabbed his collar. The journalists were flown back to Manila after the incident, and were detained for further investigations while the 10 proceeded to Cebu as part of a “familiarization tour" to promote tourism in Cebu. Valte further said the Palace does not see the incident as being linked to the rift between the Philippines and China following tensions in the south West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “I think this is an unrelated incident, isolated matter ‘yan…Certainly may mga ganito pong nangyayari and it has nothing to do with ‘yung isyu po doon sa West Philippine Sea," she said. The Spratlys, a group of islets in the West Philippine Sea believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits, are being claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. - with Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News