MANILA - The legal division of the Bureau of Immigration is recommending the deportation of a Chinese student who threw soybean curd drink (taho) at a police officer, the agency said Tuesday.

Jiale Zhang, 23, reportedly splashed the policeman with taho last week after she was barred from entering an MRT-3 station due to the railway's no-liquid policy.

• Told of MRT ban on liquids, Chinese woman throws drink at Filipino police officer

PO1 William Cristobal, to whom the drink was thrown, has filed complaints for direct assault, disobedience to an agent of a person in authority and unjust vexation at the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office.

The legal division of the BI saw that there was probable cause to file a deportation case against Zhang for posing a risk to public interest in violation of immigration laws, said Spokesperson Dana Sandoval.

"The BI can file a case motu proprio, especially since there are photos showing what happened, " she said.

Commissioner Jaime Morente described the incident as "an utter display of disobedience and arrogance against a person of authority," adding that the BI "will not tolerate such acts, as this shows disrespect to the country."

Zhang reportedly last arrived in Manila on October last year with a Special Resident Retiree's Visa. She will automatically be placed in the Bureau’s watchlist upon approval of the deportation charge, said Sandoval.