Philippines speeds up investigation of fatal shooting
ROC Central News Agency
2013/05/17 19:23:48
Manila, May 17 (CNA) The Philippines is investigating the May 9 shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the results are expected to be released soon, the country's National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Friday.
The government will handle the case based on evidence and will certainly punish anyone found to have committed any wrongdoing, NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas said at a press conference.
Rojas said that the PCG has handed over the guns used to shoot the Taiwanese fishing boat, the Kuang Ta Hsin No. 28, as well as what is purported to be video footage of the shooting.
Rojas said that investigators had boarded the MCS 3001 patrol ship, a 35-meter vessel jointly manned by the PCG and personnel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and took statements from the crew.
At the press conference, weapons held by the PCG when the shooting occurred were displayed, including eight M16 rifles, six M14 rifles and a machine gun.
A national investigation team is ready to depart for Taiwan and the investigation will be completed only after the investigation of the Taiwan side of events is concluded, Rojas added.
Meanwhile, NBI Deputy Director Virgilio Mendez said the bureau is investigating the credibility of the video, the identity of the cameraman and whether the video is related to the incident.
The NBI refused to reveal any other information, saying only that the results will be made public after the investigation is completed.
(Emerson Lim and Y.L. Kao)
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