THE Philippine National Police (PNP) commended on Monday, February 11, the police officer who was splashed with a cup of taho by a Chinese woman at the MRT station in Mandaluyong City.
Police Officer 1 William Cristobal received the "Medalya ng Papuri," which was awarded by PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde during the flag ceremony held in Camp Crame.
Albayalde said Cristobal serves as a role model to his fellow cops.
"I think ‘yung kanyang asal kasi is worthy of emulation. Highlight natin na one good deed (ang ginawa niya)... Pinakita nya ‘yung kanyang tiyaga at pasensya na kailangan natin sa mga kapulisan talaga,” he said.
(What he did was worthy of emulation. It's one good deed...He showed his perseverance and patience, which we need for our policemen.)
On Saturday morning, February 9, security personnel at the MRT Boni avenue station refused to let Jiale Zhang, 23, who is studying in a fashion school in Makati, get into the station as she was then carrying a cup of taho.
Food and drinks are not allowed to be consumed inside the station nor the train, while the MRT management is strictly imposing a "no any liquid substances" inside the premises to avoid any incident similar to the twin blasts in Jolo cathedral that resulted in the killing of 23 people and wounding of 95 others.
READ: Taho-throwing Chinese faces deportation
As the police officer intervened as Zhang insisted her way, she threw her cup of taho to Cristobal.
The photo of the incident went viral, and some netizens expressed anger over the incident.
On Sunday, February 10, Zhang underwent inquest proceedings before the Mandaluyong prosecutor’s office over charges of direct assault, disobedience to agent of person in authority, and unjust vexation.
The MRT management also said it will file charges against Zhang for not heeding to its rules and regulations for the safety of passengers.
The Bureau of Immigration is also looking into the matter following the recommendation of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to consider Zhang as undesirable alien in the country.
In an interview, Cristobal said he never thought of retaliating to Zhang although he felt bad for himself.
“Hindi ko naman po naisip gumanti basta huwag lang ako maanuhan ng physical. Syempre ‘yung mayurakan ‘yung pagkatao natin,” he said.
(I did not think of retaliating, as long as it's not physical or ruining my dignity.)
“Ginawa ko lang po ‘yung kung ano gusto mangyari ng aming chief PNP na habaan pa ‘yung pasensya at gumawa lang tama para sa bayan... Naka-uniform ako then on duty sa sarili kong bansa then foreigner ang mag-ano sa iyo syempre manliliit po tayo,” he added.
(I just followed what our chief PNP wants for policemen -- to extend our patience and do something good for the country...I was in my uniform serving my country and here comes a foreigner who will trample on my being, of course, I will be hurt.)
Albayalde reminded the public -- foreigners and Filipinos -- to always obey the law, especially that policies are also for their own welfare.
“(For the foreigners) They have to respect our culture, the way we respect their culture also and also the laws of the land. Kung talagang pinagbabawal, then talagang dapat tayo sumunod (If it's prohibited, then we should follow) because this is part of our security measures. Ito ay para sa bayan natin, para sa kalahatang sa mga Filipino (This is for our country, for all of us),” he said.
“Even in other countries, kahit sasakay ka ng eroplano bawal ‘yung bottled water din hindi ba. Doon sumusunod tayo, bakit dito hindi tayo makasunod. Whether tayo ay Filipino o foreigner dapat tayong sumunod dahil yan ay batas na pinapatupad,” he added.
(A bottle water is not even allowed in flights. If we follow that rule, then why don't we also follow it here? We should follow the rules being implemented regardless of whether we're a Filipino or foreigner.) (SunStar Philippines)