A Chinese national, Jiang Shan, is set to be deported from the Philippines after overstaying his visa, following a widely publicised incident in which he was caught on CCTV kicking a cat that later died of its injuries. The event, which took place on 4 January at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, Metro Manila, sparked significant public outrage and drew attention to both animal cruelty and immigration enforcement in the country.
Jiang, 32, was apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on 10 March outside his residence in Barangay Palanan, Makati. According to immigration records, he arrived in the Philippines as a tourist in May 2023 but failed to extend his visa after it expired in September of the same year. When approached by officers, he was unable to produce valid documentation, leading to his arrest. He is currently being held at the BI facility in Bicutan, Taguig City, pending deportation proceedings.
The incident that brought Jiang into the spotlight occurred over two months prior to his arrest. CCTV footage, later shared widely on social media by animal welfare groups such as CARA Welfare Philippines, showed him kicking a stray cat at Ayala Triangle Gardens, a popular public space in Makati. The cat succumbed to its injuries, prompting an outcry from animal rights advocates and the general public. The viral nature of the footage amplified calls for justice, with many Filipinos expressing anger over the act of cruelty. 
While the deportation proceedings are based on Jiang’s immigration violations rather than the animal cruelty incident, the case has reignited discussions about the enforcement of animal welfare laws in the Philippines. The Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended, prohibits the maltreatment of animals and imposes penalties including fines and imprisonment. However, critics argue that enforcement remains inconsistent, and cases like this often fail to result in prosecution unless significant public pressure is applied.
The BI has not commented on whether Jiang will face charges related to the cat’s death, focusing instead on his status as an overstaying foreign national. “Our priority is to uphold immigration laws and ensure that individuals without proper documentation are processed accordingly,” a BI spokesperson stated. For now, Jiang’s fate appears to be deportation, though animal rights groups continue to push for accountability over the incident that first brought him to public attention.
This case also highlights broader issues surrounding immigration enforcement in the Philippines. The BI has intensified efforts in recent years to crack down on illegal overstays, particularly among foreign nationals engaged in unauthorised work or other violations. Metro Manila, as the country’s economic hub, often sees a high number of such cases, with many individuals slipping through the cracks of an overburdened system until incidents like this bring them to light.
For many Filipinos, however, the story is less about immigration and more about the tragic loss of an innocent animal. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts condemning Jiang’s actions, with hashtags calling for stronger animal protection laws trending in the days following the release of the CCTV footage. Ayala Triangle Gardens, typically a place of leisure and relaxation, became a focal point for vigils and small protests organised by animal welfare advocates in the weeks after the incident.
As Jiang awaits the outcome of his deportation proceedings, the case serves as a stark reminder of the intersection between individual actions, public sentiment, and legal frameworks. While his removal from the country may close one chapter of this story, the broader conversation around animal welfare in the Philippines is likely to persist, driven by a growing movement of citizens and organisations demanding change.
