PH officials in Taipei for apology

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine officials arrived in Taiwan Thursday, August 8, to deliver a message of apology to the family of the slain Taiwanese fisherman and to ask the Taiwanese government to lift its sanctions against the Philippines.

“We will ask for forgiveness and our deepest apology to members of the family once we step our foot on the soil of Taipei,” Amadeo Perez, chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), told reporters prior to his 7:50 am departure from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.

Perez, accompanied by MECO officers Antonio Basilio and Manuel Dimaculangan, said they will then meet with Taiwanese Foreign Minister David Lin to talk about the lifting of sanctions imposed on the Philippines, particularly the freeze on the hiring Filipino workers.

Taiwan on Wednesday, August 7, recommended the lifting of sanctions against the Philippines, after the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended filing homicide charges against 8 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel involved in the incident.

The coast guard personnel shot dead 65-year-old fisherman Hung Shih-cheng last May 9, after his vessel sailed into Philippine waters.

“Kaya kami pupunta sa Taipei para maiayos na ang lahat at maibalik ang tiwala sa atin,” Perez told reporters. (We’re going to Taipei to mend ties and to gain back their trust.)

“We believe that the families of Mr. Cheng are ready to accept us and forgive us once they hear the word, “we are sorry,'” he said. – Rappler.com