POLICE on Sunday, February 10, said they will recommend that the Chinese woman who threw her cup of taho (soya pudding) at a police officer be declared an "undesirable alien".
Such declaration will be used as basis for the deportation of Jiale Zhang, 23, said National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Director Guillermo Eleazar.
Eleazar, in a statement, said that what Zhang did to Police Officer 1 William Cristobal was offensive and was "clearly a case of unmitigated Disrespect to an Agent of a Person in Authority."
Zhang apparently got angry after Cristobal, who was implementing the security measures for the Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system, barred her from bringing her cup of taho into the Boni Avenue Station on Saturday morning.
The MRT management prohibits passengers from bringing with them any food, drinks and all items in liquid form into the train.
"Tayo sa Pilipinas, we have rules and regulations here. Just like when we are in other countries, we also follow their rules and law. Kaya kung nasa local at foreign country tayo sundin natin ang batas na pinapatupad naman ng kapulisan. Respetuhin natin ang ating kapulisan," Eleazar said.
Photos of the incident, clearly showing Cristobal with spilled taho on his uniform, were widely circulated on social media.
Zhang was initially asked to finish her taho by MRT security personnel. Cristobal intervened when she insisted.
Apart from the no food and drinks policy inside the train, security officers are now strictly enforcing the no liquid policy inside the stations and the trains as a measure to deter terrorism.
“In fact even before na ipagbawal ‘yung iba pang liquids pertaining to possible liquid bomb, itong no food and no drinks allowed dyan sa mga train ay pinaiiral na,” said Eleazar.
Meanwhile, Eleazar clarified that Zhang is still currently detained at the Mandaluyong police station following reports that she has been released.
“Hindi pwedeng palagpasin yan kaya I see to it na talagang makasuhan yan dahil merong impormasyon na lumabas na pinaalis daw dahil humingi ng sorry. Hindi pwedeng ganun. Kung hindi man doon para sa pulis na involved doon is para sa buong organization ng PNP ang ating pinaglalaban,” he said.
“Nung pumunta ako dun nakita ko mismo na pinapasok sa kulungan after nung booking nya,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)