Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources chief Atty. Asis Perez points to the exact location where the Coast Guard intercepted 4 Taiwanese fishing vessels at 43 NM East of Balintang Island, Luzon Strait. A Taiwanese fisherman was killed as the PCG fired warning shots when one of the boats moved to ram the BFAR boat. PHOTO BY PAULO VECINA
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday admitted to shooting at a Taiwanese vessel off Batanes, which led to the death of a 65-year old fishermen. But it stressed its personnel did so in self-defense as the foreign vessel tried to ram the PCG ship.
Nevertheless, PCG Commandant Admiral Rodolfo Isorena vowed a thorough investigation into the incident and has already relieved 11 PCG personnel. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also relieved two of its personnel.
The PCG reported that the BFAR MCS 3001 fired at the Taiwanese fishing vessel Guang Ta Hsin 28 at 164 nautical miles off Balintang Channel 10 a.m. Thursday.
It said the PCG ship was attempting to accost the Guang Ta Hsin 28 and two other Taiwanese vessels. However, the Guang Ta Hsin 28 reportedly headed for the PCG vessel to ram it, prompting its crew to open fire.
The incident led to the death of 65-year old Hung Shih Cheng.
Isorena explained that Coast Guard personnel had just tried to board the fishing vessel but it "maneuvered," evading the Coast Guard ship. This prompted PCG personnel to fire a warning shot, and then fired at the fishing vessel's machinery. The foreign vessel then withdrew from the area.
"We now have information that one of the fishermen died. This incident is very unfortunate,” he added, and said efforts will be exerted to prevent similar occurrences.
Isorena vowed that the Coast Guard will strengthen its presence in the area to prevent intrusion of foreign vessels in Philippine territory.
Earlier, Chinese media reported the incident involved the Philippine Navy.
The Navy denied any involvement and said all vessels of Naval Forces Northern Luzon were in port at Subic or in Sual, Pangasinan.
"The Philippine Navy denies any involvement in, much as we were saddened by, the news about an incident where a Taiwanese fisherman was reportedly shot and the wound led to his death," Navy spokesman on the West Philippine Sea, Colonel Edgard Arevalo, said.
A report run by the Chinese news agency Xinhua, quoted Tsay Tzu-yaw, deputy head of Taiwan's fishery administration, as saying a Philippine military ship opened fire on the fishing boat some 180 nautical miles off Erluanbi, the southernmost tip of Taiwan.
The Xinhua report also said the Filipino ship continued to chase and fire at the fleeing Taiwanese vessel, which sustained heavy damage.
“We strongly protest and condemn that a Philippine government boat attacked our fishing boat and demand the Philippines formally apologize, apprehend the murderer and compensate,” a statement from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
China also condemned the incident and called it "barbaric."
Asked about the report, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said: "We cannot confirm it. We will check that."
The Philippines and Taiwan, along with Brunei, China and Malaysia, have conflicting claims to parts of the South China Sea.
China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, although Beijing claims the island. The Philippines has no diplomatic ties with Taiwan but maintains economic and cultural links.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/61427/coast-guard-admits-killing-taiwanese-fisherman-claims-self-defense
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