By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recommended the filing of a deportation case against Jiale Zhang, the Chinese national who threw ‘taho’ (soya pudding) at a police officer.
“Our legal team saw that there was probable cause to file a deportation case against her. The BI can file a case motu proprio, especially since there are photos showing what happened, ” BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said in a statement.
Sandoval noted that Zhang may face deportation for posing as a risk to public interest in violation of immigration laws.
The BI official said that the Chinese will automatically be placed in the bureau’s watch list upon approval of the deportation charge.
For his part, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente expressed dismay towards the incident which showed disrespect to the country.
“This is an utter display of disobedience and arrogance against a person of authority. The Bureau will not tolerate such acts, as this shows disrespect to the country,” he said.
The Chinese national reportedly last arrived in the country in October 2018 with a Special Resident Retiree’s Visa.
Zhang became viral on social media after she threw ‘taho’ at Police Officer 1 William Cristobal, who stopped her from entering the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) station in Boni Ave. in Mandaluyong City on Saturday.
At the time, Cristobal explained to Zhang the ban on bringing in of liquid items inside the train station as a security measure.
The 23-year-old Chinese national later claimed that she was “just in a bad mood” and apologized for her actions.
