Coast Guard admits killing Taiwanese fisherman, claims self-defense

**Phoenix67** · May 12th, 2013 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Manilablock

meron pambili ng bala ang coast guard pero walang pambili ng video camera para i-record ung mga pangyayari.

kasi kung meron silang video na babanggain nga sila ng nung maliit na barko at in self-defence kaya sila nag open fire, valid reason ung ginawa nila.

Merun....CDR King brand nga lang..hehehe

**Monseratto** · May 12th, 2013 02:29 PM

What got me wondering is why the PCG left the area and didn't call for reinforcement. The fact that the Taiwanese were able to bring the damaged boat into tow and back to Taiwan w/o interferance. And for the Taiwanese government to lodge a complaint before the PNoy goverment knew it is baffling... inamin na lang after na buking.

**Monseratto** · May 12th, 2013 07:04 PM

PNoy is too busy with the elections...go away.

The government of Taiwan has given the Philippines until Wednesday to apologise for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman whose vessel was fired on by the Philippine coastguard.

Taiwan is also demanding compensation and the arrest of those responsible.

It has warned the Philippines of diplomatic and economic measures if it does not respond positively.

The Philippine coastguard acknowledged that it had fired at the boat to "disable" its machinery.

It says that it was acting in self-defence.

Fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, 65, was shot dead on Thursday when the coastguard vessel opened fire on his boat.

He was in waters south-east of Taiwan and north of the Philippines, an area considered by both countries to be their exclusive economic zone.

Hours after his remains and vessel were returned to Taiwan, the president's office and the foreign ministry issued a series of demands to the Philippines.

They asked for a formal apology, the speeding up of the investigation into his death, punishment of the perpetrators, the payment of compensation to the fisherman's family and talks over fishing rights in the disputed area.

Taiwan also threatened to send the Philippines' representative back to Manila if its neighbour does not respond within 72-hours.

The BBC's Cindy Sui in Taiwan says that while the Philippines' representative to Taiwan has expressed sympathy and condolences to the victim's family, the Philippines has refused to apologise, pending the investigation.

Officials in Manila have said that their initial findings suggest that the coast guard acted in self-defence and that fishing boat tried to ram into the coastguard vessel.

The three surviving fishermen on board the vessel, including Mr Hung's son and son-in-law, have disputed this account.

After inspecting the boat, Taiwanese officials also said they did not find this explanation credible as there were 52 bullet holes in the boat and the fishermen were unarmed.

"This is very brutal and cold-blooded," Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said on Saturday, warning that his country would consider sanctions against the Philippines amid widespread public anger towards Manila over the shooting.

Taiwanese officials say that the coastguard chased the boat for some time and did not offer help to the distressed vessel after it was damaged by the shooting.

It argues that opening fire on an unarmed fishing boat violated international law.

Tens of thousands of Filipino migrant labourers work in Taiwan's manufacturing sectors and homes.

**Monseratto** · May 12th, 2013 07:20 PM

Okay... Taiwan has deployed their warships too... Padalhin natin yung bayaning PCG.

TAIPEI – Taiwan Sunday dispatched four coastguard and naval vessels to beef up patrols in waters near the Philippines following public outrage over the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Filipino coastguards.

“The government is determined to protect our fishermen,” cabinet spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen said in a statement as a Lafayette-class naval frigate and coastguard vessels set sail for the area where the 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman was killed Thursday.

The move came shortly after authorities issued a strongly-worded statement late Saturday night demanding Manila apologize to Taiwan and compensate the family of the dead man.

In its statement, Taiwan also asked the Philippine authorities to bring to justice the coastguards responsible and start negotiating with Taipei on a proposed fishery agreement.

“If the Filipino government fails to respond in a positive manner within 72 hours, the hiring of Philippine workers will be frozen,” presidential office spokeswoman Lee Chia-fei warned.

Read more: Taiwan beefs up patrols in waters near Philippines | Inquirer Global Nation
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**ClaNker** · May 12th, 2013 07:37 PM

Nangangamoy Akbayan/Singkit tong thread na to.

Kasalanan ni PNoy yan! :hysterical:

**cpsolt** · May 12th, 2013 07:51 PM

parang PCG pa yata ang dapat i-modernize at hindi navy. hmmmm...

**Phoenix67** · May 12th, 2013 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Monseratto

What got me wondering is why the PCG left the area and didn't call for reinforcement. The fact that the Taiwanese were able to bring the damaged boat into tow and back to Taiwan w/o interferance. And for the Taiwanese government to lodge a complaint before the PNoy goverment knew it is baffling... inamin na lang after na buking.

Kulang ang gasolina nila to go back sa dagat.

**Monseratto** · May 12th, 2013 11:26 PM

Crisis avoided... *blink**blink* Our OFWs first...!

Palace 'expresses sorrow' for Taiwanese fisherman's death | News | GMA News Online

Palace 'expresses sorrow' for Taiwanese fisherman's death
May 12, 2013 7:00pm

Malacañang on Sunday expressed "regret" over the death of a 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman in a shooting incident off disputed waters last Thursday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Manila Economic and Cultural Office representative Antonio Basilio already visited the family of the victim and "offered his apologies on behalf of the Philippine government."

"As the Philippine Coast Guard has stated, we express our heartfelt sorrow on the unfortunate situation that occurred during one of the anti-illegal fishing patrols conducted by a Philippine fishery law enforcement vessel (MCS 3001) within the maritime jurisdiction (waters off the Batanes group of islands) of the Philippines on the morning of May 9, which tragically resulted in the death of a fisherman from one of the fishing vessels reportedly poaching in the area," a Malacañang statement quoted her as saying.

Taiwan warned it will suspend the importation of Philippine labor, recall its representative in Manila, and ask the Philippine envoy in Taiwan to return to his home country if there is no favorable response by Tuesday.

The labor bureau estimates there are 87,000 Filipino laborers in Taiwan, most of whom work in the manufacturing sector. The others are mainly domestic caretakers, the CNA report said.

Meanwhile, the CNA report said some Philippine workers in Taiwan voiced sympathy for Hung's family, with some in favor of an apology by the Philippines.

Valte said the investigation into the incident has started with the arrival of the commander of MCS 3001. She added the vessel's commander and his crew "have been relieved of their duties.”

“Moving forward, relevant agencies will look into ways to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future,” she said.

Ready for talks

Meanwhile, Taiwan on Sunday said it is ready to start fisheries talks with the Philippines.

Fisheries Agency Director-General James Sha said the negotiations can begin at any time, according to a report by Taiwan's Central News Agency.

Deputy Director-General Tsai Jih-yao added Taiwan had long been interested in negotiating a fisheries agreement with the Philippines but Manila had been reluctant.

Presently, both sides have set up a working group to deal with fishing disputes involving fishermen from both sides.

The CNA report said the group was formed under a memorandum of understanding on fisheries and agriculture cooperation signed by both sides in 2005. — BM/HS, GMA News

**yebo** · May 13th, 2013 12:00 AM

yeah right! taiwan has more to lose if it freezes hiring ofws. who will they get instead? mainlanders? haha! maybe they can hire indians and bangladeshis instead. go ahead punk, make my day! stop hiring pinoys my a$$!

**wowiesy** · May 13th, 2013 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by Altis6453

If the PCG's version of the events were true, then it had every right to fire upon the fishing vessel in self defense.

But sa ganitong usapan,,, the best evidence is kung maybtracking ba bawat ship like sa airplanes para ma track per second yung location ng mga ships to have an objective view ano ba talaga nanagyari... If we base on testimony alone... Mahirap...