One Direction ordered by Philippines to post ‘weed bond’ ahead of show amid drug concerns

Two members of the popular boy band One Direction have been ordered by the Philippines' immigration authority to post bonds worth nearly US$5,000 each as a guarantee they will not use drugs while in the country for a concert.

Pop stars Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson are required to pay 200,000 pesos (HK$34,600) and 20,000 pesos respectively through their concert producer for special work permits, according to Philippine Bureau of Immigration spokeswoman Elaine Tan.

The local Anti-Drugs Advocate group has called on the bureau to strictly scrutinise the band members’ permits following a video that circulated on the internet of Malik and Tomlinson purportedly smoking marijuana.

The bonds will be forfeited if they are caught using or impliedly promoting illegal drugs while on tour in Manila this weekend, Tan said, citing an order by Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

The five-member English-Irish band are scheduled to perform on March 21 and 22 at the seaside Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Manila.

The other members of the gelled-up, painstakingly groomed band are Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Liam Payne, all of whom have sought to maintain a wholesome image for their predominantly teenage fan demographic.

The young heartthrobs had just performed to thousands of screaming, frenzied fans in Hong Kong last night amid their On The Road Again Tour.