‘No guarantee that results of Phl, Taiwan probes will match’

MANILA, Philippines - There is no guarantee that the results of the probe by the National Bureau Investigation (NBI) on the May 9 fatal shooting of a suspected Taiwanese poacher off Batanes will match those of Taipei’s own investigation, according to NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas.

In press a conference Thursday night, Rojas said the results of the NBI’s investigation would be based on the agency’s own assessment and evaluation of evidence and of interviews with those involved in the incident. He said the NBI team shared evidence with its Taiwan counterpart “in the spirit of openness and cooperation.” Members of the Taiwanese probe team were present in the press briefing.

Before returning to Taipei yesterday morning, the Taiwanese prosecutors declared that their findings would be included in the murder complaint filed by a daughter of slain fisherman Hung Shih-cheng against members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The death of Hung triggered a public outcry in Taiwan and soured relations between the Philippines and the territory. Taipei said President Aquino’s apology for the incident was not sincere.

Days after the incident, Taipei ordered restrictions on the hiring of Filipino workers.

The NBI team in Taiwan led by Danny Daganzo spent its last day at the territory’s Criminal Investigation Bureau cross matching the bullet casings collected from the PCG vessel with the slugs gathered from the Taiwanese fishing boat.

The Taiwanese team in Manila, on the other hand, inspected the weapons used by the PCG, viewed a two-hour video footage of the incident, and examined the vessel used by the PCG men. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) owns the vessel.

The Taiwanese also interviewed PCG personnel involved in the encounter with the fishing boat.

“I would like to reiterate that through our seamless cooperation in the co-operative investigation, we will achieve the goal to bring the people responsible to justice, for their criminal and administrative liability depending on the respective findings,” Taiwan investigator Yang Wan Li said.

The Taiwanese on Thursday said they were able to gather the evidence and information they needed and thanked the NBI and the Department of Justice for assisting them.

Ready for anything

 The PCG, through spokesman Commander Armand Balilo, said it is ready to accept whatever findings are established by the NBI.

“We have a high regard for the NBI and whatever the outcome may be, we would accept it. We will respond accordingly,” Balilo said.

He said the PCG had been very cooperative with the NBI as shown by its readiness to turn over 17 firearms as well as make available its officers and men for interviews with investigators.

The eight-man NBI team returned from Taiwan last Friday to wrap up its investigation. The investigators will submit their report to the DOJ next week.

Meanwhile, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) said Taiwan appreciates the support from US lawmakers for its position on the May 9 incident. TECO said the US lawmakers signified their support through congressional statements, letters, and press releases.

“They support the measures taken by the ROC government in handling this incident, and urge the Philippines to positively respond to Taiwan’s demands and extend condolences to the family of the deceased fisherman Hong Shih-cheng,” TECO said.

US Rep. Steve Chabot, chairman of the subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the House committee on foreign affairs, had also expressed his concerns over the incident to acting assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs Joseph Yun in a hearing on May 16.

Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, also reportedly voiced his support for Taiwan in an interview with ETTV America and World Journal on May 19 during the Taiwanese American Heritage Week.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very grateful to the US senators and congressmen for giving their backing over this incident, as well as for their consistent support over the years,” TECO said.  – With Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago