Phl, Taiwan investigators to inspect boat of PCG personnel

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine and Taiwanese investigators will simultaneously inspect the fishing boat and the coast guard vessel that figured in an encounter last May 9 off Batanes where a suspected Taiwanese poacher was shot dead, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

“The arrangement is that the inspection of the fishing vessel and the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) vessel will be simultaneous or almost simultaneous,” De Lima said in a chance interview.

It was not clear why the inspection would have to be done simultaneously, but officials said the procedure would be thoroughly documented and closely monitored with video cameras.

As a team of agents and forensic experts from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was preparing to fly to Taipei, De Lima said another group of investigators from Taiwan is expected to arrive in Manila.

De Lima said more Taiwanese investigators are set to arrive in the country in preparation for the official start of their probe. The first batch arrived last May 16.

“They’re just waiting for more members who will inspect the PCG vessel,” she bared.

She said the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Makati City has started processing the visas of the Taipei-bound NBI personnel.

De Lima also denied reports (not in The STAR) that Taiwan’s justice ministry had refused entry to the NBI team.

After checking with Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chair Amadeo Perez, the mistake was found to have stemmed from an “erroneous translation” from Chinese of a statement of a Taiwanese official.

But she admitted that “certain things are still being ironed out.”

An earlier report said disagreement over the turnover of PCG’s video of the incident had delayed the processing of visas of the NBI personnel.

Officials in Taiwan reportedly said the two teams would announce the start of their respective investigations in Taipei and Manila at the same time. They had also requested that the agreements between the two sides be put down in writing.

But even before the NBI team departs for Taipei, De Lima said the agency has already come up with initial findings based on video footage, statements of coast guards as well as on the ballistic report on firearms used.  

“There are bits and pieces of initial findings that would be integrated into a cohesive, presentable report. These initial findings are subject to validation of the results of the NBI team’s work in Taiwan,” she explained.

The STAR reported last week that based on initial NBI findings, the coast guard personnel involved appeared to be on a defensive stance but may have violated rules of engagement when they fired directly at the Taiwanese vessel. Even the firing of warning shot was not allowed unless under extreme circumstances.

President Aquino was also seeking explanation for the failure of the coast guard to help the mortally wounded fisherman.

“Let’s just please wait for the NBI report,” De Lima said when asked for an update on the investigation.

But she insisted the incident “happened in Philippine waters,” contrary to claims of Taiwanese officials that it took place within overlapping exclusive economic zones of Taiwan in the Philippines, particularly at 39 nautical miles off Batanes.

“We are not changing our position on that. In fact, that will be included in the NBI report,” she said.

Her position was echoed by the PCG through spokesman Commander Armand Balilo.

“As claimed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the incident took place 43 nautical miles away from Balintang Island. This was the statement of the BFAR and the PCG,” Balilo said.

“This is already being investigated and this is one of the issues that would be determined. Let us leave it to the NBI,” he said when asked to elaborate.

“I think the Department of Foreign Affairs has agreed that it was in the EEZ of the Philippines. If it was in disputed waters, it should be the DFA that should comment,” he said.

Reassess dealing

For former Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja Jr., a reassessment is needed of the country’s rules and practices in dealing with China and Taiwan “in the light of their aggressive actions and words against the Philippines.”

Baja, former foreign undersecretary for policy, said in a text message to The STAR that “the status quo limits our options and our strategy if any is no longer adequate to protect our national interest vis a vis them.”

The retired diplomat earlier called Taiwan an “irresponsible neighborhood bully” for its actions and retaliation against the Philippines.

Taiwan’s attitude, he said, “is not surprising since it is a province of China.”

The Philippines, Baja said, should not stoop to Taiwan’s level after China’s renegade province imposed a second wave of sanctions against Manila.

TECO presented yesterday a press statement of US Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, urging Taipei and Manila to exercise restraint while pursuing constructive dialogue.

Meanwhile, the Laoag-based regional office of the Bureau of Immigration announced yesterday the release of 52 Taiwanese and Chinese nationals arrested Monday in Ilocos Sur’s Vigan City for alleged cybercrime activities.

The 45 Taiwanese and seven Chinese were released by the BI Tuesday night after their passports and travel papers had been verified.

The Vigan police held the foreigners for questioning following a raid on their rented units at Mom’s Courtyard in Barangay Bongtolan, Vigan City.

“Our office is merely tasked to check whether their passports are authentic and their travel papers are valid… We got the order to release them from the central office,” a BI employee said.

Earlier reports said BI-Laoag head Paul Verzosa refused to detain the foreigners because the Vigan police picked them up from the hotel without search and arrest warrants.

Other reports said the authorities were able to secure a warrant from Vigan City Judge Francisco Ante Jr. to search the hotel where the foreign nationals were billeted.

The lawyer of the group, Melbert Tolentino, had threatened to sue the policemen for illegal search and detention. – With Charlie Lagasca, Evelyn Macairan, Rey Galupo, Pia Lee-Brago