Phl, Taiwan probers compare notes

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino and Taiwanese investigators have compared notes in their separate but cooperative investigations into the fatal shooting of a suspected Taiwanese poacher by members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) off Balintang channel last May 9.

The two sides agreed on most points while synchronizing a few differences in the evidence gathered.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) team that looked into the fatal shooting of fisherman Hung Shih-cheng met behind closed doors with their Taiwanese counterparts from Thursday afternoon until around noon yesterday.

“Insofar as the evidence is concerned, there has been no problem. Both sides have almost the same (findings),” NBI Deputy Director for Regional Operations lawyer Virgilio Mendez told reporters after the meeting.

He revealed both sides agreed on the same coordinates of the site of the incident. But as to whether the specific area falls within Philippine or Taiwanese territory, he said there are still documents the NBI needs to get from their counterparts before coming up with a conclusion.

Still, he reiterated that possible criminal prosecution of the Coast Guard personnel would have to be pursued here.

Mendez also bared there was initial disagreement as to the number of firearms used by the coast guards during the incident. The PCG submitted 15 high-powered firearms while the Taiwanese team counted 22.

Apparently, the visiting team committed an “honest mistake” since they based the figure on the number of magazines. In the end, both sides agreed there were 15.

The official said they are not ready to release findings yet since the NBI has requested additional documents from the Taiwanese authorities, particularly the slugs recovered from the fishing vessel and the authenticated medico-legal and ballistic reports.

“We cannot come out with a definite final conclusion unless we will have the official report coming from them. We need the authenticated copy of the report to be coursed through a proper procedure,” he explained.

Mendez pointed out that these evidence would be needed by the NBI should it decide to pursue a criminal case in court, saying they needed to be physically presented to the court in possible trial.

The NBI official also revealed that they have asked for the copy of the formal complaint for murder filed by the victim’s daughter before the Pingtung prosecutor’s office in Taiwan.

“Since this is a criminal case, we asked them to officially forward the complaint filed by the daughter of the victim so we will have complete records here. We need to have a complainant,” he added.

For their part, the Taiwanese team only asked for two more items of evidence for their probe – photograph of the vessel data recorder of the PCG vessel involved and the memory card of the video camera used to record the incident.

Mendez said both sides agreed to provide what the counterparts needed to officially close the parallel probes.

He added that the meeting was “cordial” and that the visiting probers were “passionate” at times.

Coast Guard members get counseling

The 17 officers and personnel of the PCG are reportedly getting counseling from the agency’s resident priests and psychologists.

The three PCG officials and 14 personnel could be experiencing a lot of stress caused by the ongoing investigation of the NBI and concerned with the outcome of their report.

PCG commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena had instructed the agency’s resident chaplain Commander Jude Thadeus Besinga and the psychologists of their medical unit to talk to the concerned Coast Guard personnel.

“At least they would have counseling so that they would not be demoralized” as a result of the aftermath of the May 9 shooting that resulted in the death of the 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman.

Isorena said that one of the concerns raised by the men was their desire to return to their homes. Since the shooting incident, some of them, especially those who live far from Manila, have been prevented from visiting their families. With Rey Galupo, Evelyn Macairan, Charlie Lagasca