• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Taipei, Manila winding down mutual legal aid in shooting case

ROC Central News Agency

2013/06/30 16:20:56

Taipei, June 30 (CNA) Taiwan and the Philippines have entered the final stage of a deal to give each other legal assistance in investigating the May shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard personnel, an official said Sunday.

"Both sides are in the final phase of the mutual legal assistance process," Anna Kao, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CNA when asked when Taiwan's investigative report on the shooting case will be released.

But she would not elaborate on what the final stage of the process entails.

It has been almost a month since investigators from Taiwan and the Philippines wrapped up visits to each other's country to collect evidence related to the case.

The reciprocal visits were a vital part of the mutual legal assistance agreement.

According to the ministry, both sides have completed their reports on the May 9 attack, in which Taiwanese fishing boat Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28 was strafed by a Philippine patrol vessel while operating in the overlapping exclusive economic zones of the two countries.

A 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman named Hung Shih-cheng was killed in the attack.

The Philippine report, compiled by the National Bureau of Investigation, has been sent to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and is awaiting his approval.

Once the Philippine president approves the report, the Philippines will share their results with Taiwan, and Taiwan will also share the results of its report with the Philippines, a Taiwanese diplomatic source told CNA.

The Philippines has also agreed to inform Taiwan of when it will release its report, the source said.

The Taiwanese investigation found that the Philippines Coast Guard personnel who fired the fatal shots at Hung could be charged with "intentional killing," sources close to the Taiwanese probe said earlier this month.

Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de Lima also confirmed that criminal and administrative charges have been recommended by the NBI against those involved in the shooting, but she did not disclose what the suggested charges were.

The shooting and Manila's immediate response to it triggered a diplomatic row and led Taiwan to impose sanctions on the Philippines, including suspending the hiring of Filipinos seeking work in Taiwan and discouraging Taiwanese nationals from visiting the Philippines.

In the wake of the incident, Taiwan demanded that the Philippines issue a formal apology, compensate Hung's family, punish those responsible for his death and begin fishery talks to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

(By Elaine Hou)