De Lima: NBI recommended raps vs PCG in shooting of Taiwanese fisherman
Mark Merueñas, GMA News
June 13, 2013
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has confirmed that criminal and administrative charges have been recommended by the National Bureau of Investigation against Philippine Coast Guard personnel embroiled in the May 9 fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters in northern Philippines.
"I confirmed in an interview here in Madrid that the NBI report is now with the President and that the NBI has recommended the filing of charges against the PCG personnel involved in the incident," De Lima told reporters in a text message on Thursday.
De Lima is currently in Madrid, Spain attending the World Congress Against Death Penalty.
"But what exactly are the charges, I did not and cannot disclose yet pending the President's clearance," she added.
De Lima also assured the public that the Taiwanese investigators "had no influence" on the NBI's probe results.
"Hopefully, the conclusions from both sides would jibe or are not that different," the Justice chief said.
Last Tuesday, the NBI – which conducted a probe both in Manila and Taiwan – submitted its report to De Lima, who in turn transmitted it to President Benigno Aquino III.
When sought for details on the NBI report, NBI Deputy Director Virgilio Mendez told reporters: "Sorry, I am not privy to answer your question. It is beyond me to comment about the case now."
Mendez, however, said the Taiwan government has transmitted to them several documents that the NBI requested, like translated and authenticated copies of Taiwan's ballistics exam results and autopsy report.
"I don't know if it's part of the documents transmitted to us by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office," Mendez said, referring to a copy of the murder complaint filed by the daughter of the victim in Taiwan.
The NBI had earlier said it needed to obtain a copy of the complaint so the agency could include it in its final report on the incident.
PCG will issue statement soon
Sought for comment, PCG spokesperson Armand Balilo told GMA News Online in a phone interview that they will issue a statement after they have received an official communication from the Justice Department.
“Magre-react kami ‘pag may official communication na. Ngayon kasi [ay] wala pa,” Balilo said.
Taiwanese Hung Shih-cheng, 65, was killed during the May 9 incident at the Balintang Channel near the Luzon Strait when coast guards sprayed bullets at his boat, claiming that the fisherman attempted to ram a ship owned by the Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Along with other sanctions, Taiwan had ordered a freeze in the hiring of Filipinos in protest of what it considered a "cold blooded" murder.
The incident also prompted parallel investigations by both Manila and Taipei. — with a report from Rouchelle Dinglasan/LBG/RSJ/KG, GMA News
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