BI finds probable cause to file deportation case vs. Chinese national in ‘taho’ incident

The 23-year-old Chinese fashion design student has apologized for what happened, explaining that she was just in a “bad mood” and “was not able to control her emotions” when she threw her snack to Cristobal. (File photo: PIO NCRPO/Facebook)

The Bureau of Immigration’s (BI’s) legal division said it found a probable cause to file a deportation case against the Chinese national, who was recently under fire after she threw a cup of taho, a snack from processed soybeans, to a cop at a Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) station in Mandaluyong City.

BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said this on Tuesday, February 12, adding that the bureau “can file a case motu proprio, especially since there are photos showing what happened.”

Jiale Zhang, according to the management of MRT-3, was asked to finish her snack before entering Boni Station, however, the Chinese nation “insisted not to do so” and splashed her cup of taho at Police Officer 1 (PO1) William Cristobal.

[READ: Police nab Chinese woman after she throws cup of ‘taho’ to police officer in MRT-3]

Zhang drew a lot of criticisms from the public as photos of her during the incident circulated online. The 23-year-old Chinese fashion design student has apologized for what happened, explaining that she was just in a “bad mood” and “was not able to control her emotions” when she threw her snack at Cristobal.

Authorities, on Monday, charged Zhang with unjust vexation, disobedience to an agent of person in authority, and direct assault before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Mandaluyong.

Due to her actions, Sandoval said Zhang may face deportation for “posing a risk to public interest, in violation of immigration laws.”

The bureau said Zhang arrived in the country last October 2018 with a Special Resident Retiree’s Visa.

Once the deportation charge against the Chinese national, the Immigration official noted that Zhang will be automatically placed in the BI’s watchlist.

Senator Richard Gordon has urged the bureau to immediately start the deportation proceedings against the Chinese student.

“The Chinese nationals here and all other foreign nationals staying in our country should respect our rules and laws. They should not flout our rules and they should also respect the officials who are implementing our laws,” the lawmaker said.