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By Adam Tyrsett Kuo, The China Post
July 27, 2013, 12:26 am TWN
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- President Ma Ying-jeou said yesterday that the administration is eager to restore its ties with the Philippines.
The President made the comment during an interview with Bloomberg News.
The administration leveled several punitive measures against Manila in May, after the latter failed to comply with Taiwan's demands in response to the incident in which local fisherman Hung Shih-cheng was killed by Philippine coastguardsmen while operating in overlapping waters.
The punitive measures, totaling 11, included a freeze on visa applications by Philippine nationals seeking employment in Taiwan.
Taiwan and the Philippines launched a cooperative probe into the case, the president said, adding that Taiwan's investigative report was completed more than a month ago.
The Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation compiled its report and submitted it to President Benigno Aquino, while Justice Secretary Leila de Lima recommended that criminal charges be filed against the coastguardsmen involved in the case. The Philippine president, however, has yet to approve the report.
In his interview with Bloomberg News, Ma said, We are now looking for a response from the Philippines so that both sides can release their investigation results, which will move us even closer ... We hope the process will not be a long one.
Taiwan eager to restore ties with Philippines: president - The China Post