'I really like the Philippines': Chinese student sorry for 'taho' tantrum
MANILA, Philippines — The 23-year-old Chinese student arrested for throwing her soybean drink or "taho" at a police officer implementing the liquid ban at an MRT-3 station expressed remorse Monday over her actions.
Jiale Zhang, who is studying fashion design in the country, said she was just in a bad mood last Saturday morning when the incident happened.
"I'm really in bad mood and I was not able to control my emotion. I really admit the mistake I made and I feel so regretful," a teary Zhang said in an interview with GMA News.
She was asked by PO1 William Cristobal to finish her "taho" or choose other transportation options as a ban on liquids is being implemented on Philippine train lines amid stricter security following the deadly Jolo cathedral bombing last January 27.
Zhang, who has been living in the Philippines for over six years, appealed for a second chance.
"I'm really really sorry. And I really ask if it's possible to have another chance for me," she said.
"I really like the Philippines that's why I stay here. I like people here. I really love Filipinos."
Meanwhile, Zhang's legal counsel, lawyer Sandra Respall, addressed criticisms hurled at her client online.
"This was a very minor omission which just went viral," Respall said referring to the photo of the incident that gained attention online.
"It's a case where somebody got emotional over an incident," she added.
Zhang is detained at the Mandaluyong police headquarters for disobedience to a person in authority, direct assault and unjust vexation.
Mandaluyong City police chief Senior Supt. Moises Villaceran Jr. said they would recommend to the Bureau of Immigration to declare Zhang as an "undesirable alien" and deport her.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin, however, argued against deportation on Sunday, a day after the incident happened.
"... Charge her. But deport? She's a student who believes enough in us to study here," Locsin said in a tweet.
Absolutely. Charge her. But deport? She’s a student who believes enough in us to study here. https://t.co/CUlRJ1B8Sx
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 10, 2019
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo said the incident is a wake-up call as she raised her concern on the "special treatment" afforded to China by the Duterte government.
Vice President Leni Robredo denounces the "disrespect" shown by a young Chinese woman who threw "taho" at a police officer conducting an inspection at an MRT station.
Robredo says the act was an "insult" not just to the police, but to all Filipinos.
"Hindi lang pambabastos sa pulis, pero pambabastos ito sa bansa natin," she says in her weekly radio show "BISErbisyong LENI."
She says Filipino hospitality extends to the Chinese and other foreign nationals in the country and in turn, these foreigners should also respect the Philippines and its people.
The Chinese woman was turned over to authorities on Saturday morning after she threw "taho" at a cop. The MRT-3 management said the incident happened at Boni Station in Mandaluyong City at around 8:30 a.m.
Authorities identified the Chinese woman as Jialz Zhang Nepomuceno, 42, and the cop as Police Officer 1 William Cristobal.
The Bureau of Immigration says it has detained the Chinese student who threw taho at a police officer over the weekend.
In a statement, Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval says Zhang Jiale is now detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig.
Immigration operatives “were armed with a Mission Order signed by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente to gain custody over Zhang...for violating immigration laws,” adds Sandoval.
Zhang posted bail on Tuesday night on cases filed against her by the police .The bureau also says it will resolve her possible deportation case “in the next few weeks.”
The Bureau of Immigration's Legal Division has recommended filing a deportation case against the Chinese student who threw a cup of taho at a police officer at a Metro Rail Transit station over the weekend.
Bureau spokesperson Dana Sandoval says the division found probable cause to file a case against 23-year-old Zhang Jiale, who apologized Monday night for throwing the soybean drink at PO1 William Cristobal for barring her from entering the station with the drink.
"The BI can file a case motu proprio, especially since there are photos showing what happened," Sandoval says.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente is quoted in the same BI release as calling Zhang's act "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 says.
Police have formally filed a complaint against Jiale Zhang, 23, for throwing taho at a police officer for refusing to let her bring the cup inside the MRT station on Boni Avenue.
Authorities have filed a complaint of unjust vexation, disobedience to a person in authority and direct assault against the foreign student who threw “taho”at a cop stationed at MRT.
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) February 11, 2019
The complaint was filed at the Mandaluyong prosecutor’s office. | @kristinepatag pic.twitter.com/YkFwNFS74O
Photos of the incident, which went viral on Saturday, have prompted calls to deport her to China. The Department of Foreign Affairs has said the incident is a non-issue.
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