Taiwan probe team returns as Manila 'refuses to cooperate'

According to local media, a new investigative delegation may head out to the Philippines as early as today once the Philippine government issues a formal statement for a joint-investigation.

Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang said that the government expects a joint-investigation on the case, even though its initial investigative task force returned after being rejected by the Philippine government.

Chen said: “We have received a letter from the Manila Economic and Cultural Office [MECO] and the Department of Justice about the investigation. Although it does not state clearly the details of the joint-investigation, we will ask for a formal statement after we talk with the Philippines’ top envoy to Taiwan on Monday.”

President Ma Ying-jeou convened a National Security Committee meeting last night in response to the latest turn of events.

Later, Presidential Office spokeswoman Garfie Li held a press conference and said that Taiwan will wait until the Philippine government is fully prepared to receive its delegation.

An investigative task force was organised by the government last week to probe the killing of fisherman Hung Shih-cheng. It included a total of 17 prosecutors and officials from various government departments. The team had intended to launch a collaborative investigation with Philippine justice personnel. They left Taiwan on May 15 but returned yesterday after Philippine investigators refused to collaborate.

 

Flip-flop

The team held a press conference with international media in the Philippines before returning to Taiwan yesterday, saying that no Philippine officials were present when they arrived at the airport in Manila.

Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs Director Chen Wen-chi held in her hands a statement issued from MECO saying that it would invite Taiwanese authorities to take part in the Philippine government’s investigation.

She lashed out at Manila for its “lack of integrity” and “arrogance” over the perceived flip-flop.

The task force further showed pictures of the bullet-riddled Kuang Ta Hsing No 28, noting that bullet holes were found predominantly in the front and rear sections of the vessel – places where the four fishermen on the boat were hiding.

Chen said, “This was clearly an intentional homicide, which should not have been carried out by a civilised country. I’m certain that the Philippine government would not like to see its people shot by members of another country’s government branches.”

The delegation also issued a press release in which it said that even if the Philippine coast guards were conducting official duties, they should have followed standard procedures by issuing a warning or boarding and detaining the vessel in accordance with international maritime law.

The fishing boat’s systems showed that the exact location of the incident was within the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of China and not in Philippine territorial waters, the delegation added.

Chen explained that her team’s demand to investigate the case with the Philippines was in accordance with legal procedures, and that Taiwan’s officials are in contact with their Philippine counterparts regarding future collaboration.