One Direction members, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, are asked by the Philippines Bureau of Immigration to post bonds of worth $5,000 each ahead of the band's performance this weekend in the country. The bonds will be forfeited if these members are caught using or promoting the use of illegal drugs during their visit in Manila.
One of the country's local anti-drug group has urged the government to scrutinize the work permit for the band very carefully. One Direction's members are rumored to use marijuana and perform while in its influence. The Philippines based group has also asked the government to make sure that the band members are drug free during the whole visit to the country as their apparent drug involvement will have a bad influence on the country's youth.
"The condition is intended to protect the public interest should the band members commit any violation during their stay in the Philippines," said Elaine Tan, Philippine Bureau of Immigration's spokeswoman.
The said amount of the bond has been submitted at the bureau, BBC reported. Apart from that, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency will send special officers at the concert to monitor the band during its performance. They are due to perform live at the seaside Mall of Asia Concert Grounds on Mar. 21 and 22.
Last year, the band's reputation got tarnished badly following a viral video, in which the band's members Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson can be seen smoking a hand rolled cigarette apparently filled with marijuana. One Direction's singer Liam Payne had later posted a message on Twitter to apologise for his and his band's members' actions, admitting towards their inclination towards the illicit drug.
"I love my boys and maybe things have gone a little sideways. I apologise for that," wrote the band's star Payne. "We are only in our 20s, and we all do stupid things at this age."