Taiwanese fishermen in Manila for DOJ probe

MANILA, Philippines – The Taiwanese fishermen summoned by the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the May 9 Balintang Channel incident arrived in Manila Sunday, September 8.

Fishermen Hong Zhe, Hung Yu Chih, and Shang Yu Ze Hong arrived on board a China Airlines flight from Kaoshiung, Taiwan, accompanied by their lawyers Chen Feng Fu and Chen Shou Han.

They were also accompanied by Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) Philippine Base Representative Andrew Tung Heng Lin, acting director of the TECO political division, and Deputy Representative Samson Chang.

The fishermen were ordered to “personally appear” before the DOJ at a hearing Monday, September 9, at 2 pm, where they will subscribe and swear to their affidavits regarding the border incident.

The hearing is in connection with the case filed against personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), who were involved in the death of fisherman Hung Shih-Cheng, when his boat was chased and shot at for allegedly entering Philippine territory illegally.

The subpoenas were issued to the fishermen through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), who then served the subpoenas and notices to them.

They were dated August 23 and signed by Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera and Alexander Suarez. The documents were stamped received by the MECO Tuesday, August 27.

The NBI on August 7 recommended homicide charges against 8 PCG personnel involved in Hung Shih-Cheng’s death.

The case has strained relations between the Philippines and Taiwan, with the latter placing sanctions on Manila, including freezing the hiring of Filipino workers. The sanctions has since been lifted.

Manila has formally apologized to the Taiwanese government and to the family of the fisherman. – With reports from Jedwin Llobrera/Rappler.com