One Direction concert organizers told to pay P400,000 bond

Photo from One Direction Facebook page

ORGANIZERS for this weekend's concert of international band One Direction were directed Thursday by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to post a cash bond worth P400,000 before allowing the hit British group to perform in the country.

BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said the imposition of the cash bond was due to allegations that two members of the heartthrob boy band are using illegal drugs.

Videos of One Direction members, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, smoking marijuana while on their way to a concert in Peru in April last year, became viral, upsetting fans.

“The imposition of cash bond was pursuant to the referral of the Anti-Drugs Advocate, Laban ng Pamilyang Pilipino, Inc. (ADA), requesting for strict scrutiny of applicants for SWP (special work permit), particularly those with purported links to drug use," Tan said in a statement.

Malik and Tomlinson, through the concert producer, were directed to post cash bonds of P200,000 each, which would be forfeited in case they commit any immigration violation or are caught using or promoting illegal drugs.

The band will be prevented from performing on March 21 and 22 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Pasay City should the producer, Music Management International, fails to post the cash bond prior to those dates, Tan said.

One Direction is behind hit songs "What Makes You Beautiful," "Story of My Life," "Best Song Ever," "Kiss You," and "One Thing," among others. (FP/Sunnex)

Source: Entertainment | Sun.Star Online