PB to DFA: Assist Cebuanos in Taiwan

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board yesterday asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to extend assistance to Cebuanos in Taiwan who could be subjects of violence following the shooting incident of a Taiwanese fisherman.

The request was made following reports that several Filipinos were being discriminated, attacked, beaten up and injured by Taiwanese gang members.

“This august body finds it imperative requesting the Department of Foreign Affairs to assist Cebuanos in Taiwan who could be subjects of violence following the shooting to death of a Taiwanese fisherman,” stated the resolution sponsored by PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy.

Sitoy cited some provisions of the Local Government Code which mandated the local government to promote the safety and convenience of their constituents.

On May 9, Philippine Coast Guard personnel shot fisherman Hung Shih-cheng when the Taiwanese vessel he was riding allegedly tried to ram their ship in disputed waters off the coast of Batanes in extreme northern Luzon.

The incident has caused a dispute between the Philippines and Taiwan, with Taipei freezing the hiring of Filipino workers and discouraging Taiwanese nationals from traveling to the Philippines despite repeated apologies from Manila.

The Philippines and Taiwan yesterday started a parallel investigation on the fatal shooting of the Taiwanese fisherman in the Balintang Channel off Batanes island. —/MIT (FREEMAN)