Court orders PCG exec’s arrest for Balintang shooting

MANILA, Philippines - A Batanes court on Wednesday issued a warrant for the arrest of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol boat commander who was involved in the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in Balintang Channel.

Batanes Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Ramon Barona issued a warrant for Cmdr. Arnold Enrique dela Cruz and his lawyer Ernesto Cabrera for failure to attend the pre-trial of the homicide case filed against the commander and several other PCG officers. 

Barona also cancelled Dela Cruz’s P40,000 bail bond. 

At last Tuesday’s hearing, Hung Yu-chih, the skipper of the Taiwanese fishing vessel Guang Da Xing no. 28 and son of the victim, Hung Shi Cheng, admitted that he could not remember the location of their vessel when the PCG personnel fired at them on May 9, 2013.

Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said Cheng was the first prosecution witness.