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Kuang Ta Hsing shot in overlapping economic zones: Philippines official

ROC Central News Agency

2013/06/02 12:34:57

Manila, Philippines June 2 (CNA) A Philippines official, who is close to the probe related to the May 9 shooting of a Taiwanese fishing boat by a Philippines maritime patrol vessel, confirmed on Saturday for the first time that the incident took place in the overlapping economic zones between the two countries, a Filipino newspaper reported Sunday.

The daily, which is one of the top three newspapers in the country, based on circulation, said the anonymous source had confirmed Taiwan's claims that the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28 was attacked in the overlapping territorial waters between the two countries although it was "on the Philippines side and not on the Taiwan side."

Filipino authorities are insisting that the Kuang Ta Hsing was attacked after it intruded into the Philippines' territorial waters.

The paper quoted another source -- who has seen a video of the incident in which Taiwanese fisherman Hung shih-chen was shot and killed -- telling the Inquirer on Saturday that the Philippines coast guards were laughing as they fired at the Kuang Ta Hsing.

The Philippines Daily Inquirer quoted an anonymous source as saying, "The video showed the soldiers acting unprofessionally."

"It is disturbing and embarrassing for Philippines' law enforcers," said the source.

His statements were confirmed by two other sources who have also seen the video.

According to the Coast Guard report on the incident, Arnold de la Cruz, the commander of the Filipino coast guard patrol vessel, "ordered his men to fire at the fishing vessel when it did not stop after several warnings."

The incident had triggered a diplomatic sparring between the two countries, before both sides agreed to launch a joint probe into the incident.

Investigators on both sides concluded their probes into the incident on Friday, and the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila said its report will be ready in a "day or two," according to the Inquirer.

(By Emerson T. Lin and Maubo Chang)
ENDITEM/Shradhha