Palace: Taiwan did not stop NBI from probing fisherman's death

MANILA, Philippines - Taiwan did not stop personnel from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from probing the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in waters off Batanes earlier this month.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte belied a report that said NBI probers were stopped from conducting their investigation. She said that a statement issued by a Taiwanese official was only mistranslated by the local media in Taiwan.

"Kinontak po ni Secretary Leila de Lima si Chairman Amadeo Perez ng MECO (Manila Economic and Cultural Office) at sinabi po ni Chairman Perez na hindi po totoo ‘yung report. Nagkaroon daw po ng maling translation doon sa statement ng deputy minister po yata ng minister of justice nila," Valte said.

The Taipei Times reported on Thursday that that Ministry of Justice in Taiwan rejected a request by the Philippines to send local investigators there to conduct a probe on the Philippine Coast Guard's fatal shooting of a suspected Taiwanese poacher in "disputed" waters on May 9.

The report said both the Philippines and Taiwan have not agreed to each other's requests that are related to the the separate investigations by the two nations.

"The ministry felt that the two sides (Philippines and Taiwan) have not reached consensus and that mutual legal assistance has not been conducted under the principles of equality and reciprocity, he said, so it felt the proposal to send an investigation team (from Manila) to Taiwan should be delayed," the report said.

But Valte dismissed the report and claimed that Taiwan has in fact sent a new request in connection with the investigation.

"Nagpadala nga daw po ng bagong request ‘yung Taiwan side about the investigation so nagulat din po sila at the report. That’s why they sought to clarify; the clarification was made," Valte said.

She added that the NBI probers are just waiting for the date when they can conduct the investigation.