Cop in ‘taho tantrum’ gets medal

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) commended yesterday the police officer who was doused with taho or soybean dessert by a Chinese woman at the Metro Rail Transit 3 over the weekend.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde conferred the Medalya ng Papuri (Commendation Medal) on Police Officer 1 William Cristobal, whose photograph with his uniform drenched in taho went viral on Facebook.

Albayalde lauded Cristobal for keeping his composure despite a humiliating experience when Jiale Zhang, 23, threw a cup of taho at him after she was barred from entering the MRT-3 Boni Avenue station in Mandaluyong City.

The PNP chief said Cristobal should be emulated by other police officers for not losing his cool and remaining professional while dealing with an irate commuter.

“He showed to the public that our policemen treat people with the same respect whether they are foreigners or Filipinos,” Albayalde told reporters.

He urged foreigners to follow the country’s laws and culture.

He pushed for Zhang’s deportation for being an undesirable alien.

Cristobal has been in the police service for 10 years. He started his career at the Manila Police District and is now assigned with the National Capital Region Police Office Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Taguig City.

He said he only followed the directive of the PNP chief to exercise maximum tolerance at all times.

Malacañang reminded foreigners to comply with Philippine laws and rules.

“Foreigners who stay in the country should behave, otherwise they would face deportation,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said. “We will not allow them to disrespect authorities or violate any law or ordinance in this country.”

Panelo said the incident should not be blown up, noting that the Chinese are not the only ones who displayed rude behavior in the past. 

He also chided Vice President Leni Robredo, who said the incident should be a wake-up call for the administration to stop giving “special treatment” to Chinese.

Former special assistant to the president and senatorial aspirant Christopher Go said Zhang should be deported for her actions.

 “She should be deported because she has no respect. we Filipinos respect our police,” he said.

Go reminded the public to respect members of the uniformed service who risk their lives to protect the country.

Police filed charges of direct assault, unjust vexation and disobedience to a person in authority against Zhang before the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office on Sunday night.

Eastern Police District director Chief Supt. Bernabe Balba said Zhang was accompanied by her lawyer, Zandra Respall, during inquest proceedings.

Based on the complaint, Zhang was entering the MRT-3 Boni station when she was stopped by security guards because she was carrying taho.

Assistant City Prosecutor Herbert Abugan is set to rule on whether to deport Zhang for her behavior.  –  With Alexis Romero, Edu Punay, Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte-Felipe, Helen Flores  

The MRT-3 and Light Rail Transit (LRT) banned bottled drinks and other liquids inside the train stations as part of security measures following the recent bombings in Jolo, Sulu and Zamboanga City that killed over 20 people.

Calls for deportation

Senators joined the call for Zhang’s deportation amid the taho-throwing incident.

Sens. Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon said the Chinese student should be declared an undesirable alien.

Lacson said if a Filipino throws something at a police officer in China, he would be charged and immediately deported.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said the Bureau of Immigration should start deportation proceedings of Zhang for her failure to respect the country’s rules.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. agreed with the filing of charges against Zhang, but opposed calls for her deportation.

“Charge her. But deport? She’s a student who believes enough in us to study here,” Locsin said in his Twitter account.  – With Alexis Romero, Edu Punay, Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte-Felipe, Helen Flores  

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