Charges to be filed in death of fisherman
Print Edition
Philippine authorities said yesterday they had recommended homicide charges against eight Filipino coast guards for the fatal shooting of a Taiwan fisherman in May.
Taiwan welcomed the move as a “constructive response” in a dispute that severely strained relations and said it would recommend that the island’s government lift sanctions against Manila.
The Philippine Justice Department announcement followed weeks of high tensions between Taiwan and the Philippines, after coast guard chiefs in Manila initially insisted the fishing vessel had tried to ram the coast guard boat and their personnel had fired in self-defense.
“The NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) report recommends that criminal charges of homicide be filed against these eight Philippine Coast Guard personnel,” said NBI head Nonnatus Rojas.
Commanding officer Arnold dela Cruz and seaman first class Edrano Aguila, who was found to have fired the M14 rifle that killed Hung Shih-cheng, are among those whom the report recommends should be charged.
Acted in ‘conspiracy’
However since all eight coast guards admitted firing their guns, they would all face the same charge under the principle that they acted in “conspiracy,” Rojas told reporters.
Nine other coast guards on the same vessel, as well as three fisheries bureau personnel, will not be charged.
The May 9 incident occurred in waters which Taiwan claims as part of its economic zone.
The 65-year-old Taiwan fisherman was killed when the coast guards opened fire on the small vessel he was crewing with his son and two others.
Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou described the incident as “cold-blooded murder.”
Taiwan ordered a freeze on the hiring of Filipino workers, warned its tourists against traveling to the Philippines and staged naval drills near its sea border with Manila.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino repeatedly apologized for the killing and sent an envoy to Taiwan, but his actions were deemed insincere.
Taiwan instead demanded criminal charges.
Rojas said there was no categorical proof that the fishing boat posed an imminent or grave threat to the lives of those on board the Philippine patrol craft.
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