MANILA, Philippines - A team from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that will probe the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in waters off Batanes may leave for Taiwan on Friday.
Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chair Amadeo Perez said they are now processing the visa of each member of the eight-man NBI team
The NBI probers will be assisted by MECO officials upon their arrival in Taiwan so they could meet with authorities of the said country.
Taiwanese authorities have assured that they will provide security to the NBI team, according to Perez.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima had said that the NBI team will go to Taiwan to interview the slain Taiwanese fisherman's companions and witnesses and to possibly undertake a re-autopsy of the victim's body.
"They (Taiwanese authorities) realize na kailangan ng NBI team makapunta ng Taiwan para gawin yung mga proseso," De Lima said earlier this week.
The NBI team can even leave on Thursday, said NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas, as they are just awaiting the clearance from the MECO and the Department of Justice.
The Philippine government claimed on Wednesday that tensions between the two disputing countries have subsided a bit about two weeks after the fatal shooting of the suspected Taiwanese poacher. Related story: Palace: Tensions between PH, Taiwan 'eased a bit'