Fisheries deal with Taiwan eyed

MANILA, Philippines - A fisheries cooperation system or agreement with neighboring countries – including Taiwan – may be key to solving maritime disputes in the region without undermining the country’s sovereignty, President Aquino said yesterday.

The President’s declaration came amid a diplomatic row with Taipei over the fatal shooting last May 9 of a suspected Taiwanese poacher off Batanes by Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

Aquino said that while initial “dialogues” with Taiwan on the matter had already begun, he would rather see the May 9 incident resolved first.

“But we are having the fisheries agreement studied, our limitations. The guarding of the national patrimony provisions of the Constitution will come into play. So, after we finish this issue, we will talk to every neighbor that we have to ensure peaceful and equally prosperous relations with everybody,” the President told reporters in an ambush interview after leading the rites commemorating the 115th anniversary of the Philippine Navy in Cavite City.

The President also thanked Taiwanese leaders for promising to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Taiwan in the wake of reports of violent attacks on some Filipinos in the territory.

“We heard the prime minister of Taiwan and their Ministry of Foreign Affairs have released (statements) that our fellowmen there must not be maltreated and anyone proven to have maltreated our fellowmen will be slapped appropriate penalties – we are thankful for that,” Aquino said.

He said he does not have to explicitly direct the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) to ensure the safety of Filipinos, but that he would like the Taipei resident representative Antonio Basilio to clarify, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, if he had indeed promised Taiwan a joint investigation into the May 9 incident, contrary to the President’s wishes.

“I want to make sure what he (Basilio) really said and check if he went beyond the limits of my directives,” Aquino said.

The Department of Justice earlier ruled out a joint investigation with Taiwan but said it is open to a “parallel” probe.

“We don’t need to tell MECO its obligations and duties that it’s already fulfilling,” he said.

The President said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima informed him that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had finished its investigation into the incident “except for the physical examination of the subject boat.”

“And it (boat) is in Taiwan, we are waiting for clearance for the team to go there to inspect mutually this boat, to complete the thorough investigation,” Aquino said.

Earlier, Malacañang said MECO chairman Amadeo Perez’s message to Taipei supposedly covered only an assurance of an impartial probe, a public apology from the President, and possible financial assistance to the family of the slain fisherman.

Taiwan, however, had accused the Philippines of being insincere in its apology.

Phl jurisdiction

After agreeing on a “parallel investigation” into the May 9 incident, De Lima made clear yesterday that local investigators have legal jurisdiction over the issue because the shooting happened in Philippine waters.

“Insofar as we are concerned, it happened in Philippine waters,” she said in an interview.

Based on an incident report submitted by the Philippine Coast Guard to the NBI, the incident took place off Balintang Island in Balintang Channel in Batanes.

This was contrary to the reported pronouncement of Taiwanese officials that the incident where their compatriot Hung Shih-cheng was killed happened 170 miles or 315 kilometers south of Taiwan or within their 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

“Is that (issue) material or not? Let’s just wait and see the results of the NBI investigation,” she said.

She said what’s important is that an investigation is being conducted to determine who should be held liable for the incident, if there is any.

The issue on jurisdiction would determine where those found criminally liable would be prosecuted.

In the case of the Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking incident on Aug. 23, 2010 where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed and seven others injured, the DOJ was involved in the investigation.

In the May 9 incident, Taiwan launched a separate probe but agreed to cooperate and share evidence with local authorities after the DOJ rejected a call for a joint investigation.

But despite a commitment to cooperation, De Lima said it’s possible that separate probes would have contrasting findings.

“There’s always that possibility. In that case, the people will decide and would know which one has more credible findings,” she said.

As of yesterday afternoon, Philippine authorities were still waiting for approval from Taiwan of their request to send an NBI team to Taipei to examine the fishing vessel and interview the companions of the victim as agreed during a meeting last Monday in Manila.

It was also agreed during the meeting that Taiwanese investigators who arrived in Manila last May 16 would be given access to evidence gathered by the NBI, including statements from the Coast Guard personnel involved as well as ballistic report on firearms used.

Repercussions

As the animosity between Manila and Taipei continues, Taiwanese tourists have started canceling their flights to the country.

Percy Malonesio, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) at the Kalibo International Airport, confirmed that several airlines had notified them of cancellation of flights to Boracay from Taiwan.

Taipei ordered a travel ban to the Philippines in the wake of the fatal shooting of the Taiwanese fisherman last May 9 off Batanes.

“We have received information from the Mandarin Airlines that they will be canceling their flights coming from Taiwan beginning (today). We expect notifications from other airline companies such as Zest Airlines and Philippine Airlines to also follow through anytime today,” said Malonesio.

Philippine Airlines, Zest Air, and Mandarin Airlines fly twice a week between Manila and Taipei.

“We consider Taiwanese tourists important factor to our economy. We have stable flights coming from Korea and China right now,” Malonesio said.

In an effort to find ways to ease the impact of tour cancellations, the Department of Tourism in Boracay is calling for a meeting with officers of the Boracay Foundation Inc., Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other stakeholders.

In Vigan, Ilocos Sur, police rounded up 52 Taiwanese at a beach resort on suspicion they were engaged in cybersex operations. – With Edu Punay, Helen Flores, Ricky Bautista, Charlie Lagasca, Teddy Molina, Raymund Catindig