No indemnity for slain skipper's kin

The government will not indemnify the family of a Chinese boat captain killed in a clash with the Coast Guard but would release his seven crewmen as requested by China, Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said yesterday.

Siazon explained Beijing had no basis to demand compensation or file a diplomatic protest since the fishermen were poaching in Philippine waters.

The boat's skipper was killed and his crew was arrested after a clash with the Coast Guard off Palawan last Friday. They were caught poaching for turtles.

The Liang-Liang Hai then tried to escape, forcing the Coast Guard to fire warning shots. But instead of stopping, the crew allegedly fired at the Coast Guard vessel, forcing the Coast Guard to shoot back, killing the captain.

"The arrest is justified because they are in internal waters. Now, if the report (by the Philippine National Police and the Coast Guard) says they were fired at, the shooting is also justified. I was the one, in fact, who called Chinese Ambassador Fu Ying to tell her about the incident," Siazon said.

Philippine authorities are to exercise maximum tolerance in disputed areas in the South China Sea, Siazon said, but not if they are attacked inside Philippine territory.

The body of Chinese skipper Fu Kung Wu will be immediately shipped back to his family in China's Hainan province.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lauro Baja Jr. did not rule out the possibility of extending humanitarian aid to the captain's family but it would not come from the government.

"It can be sourced from other sectors," Baja said.

Explaining the reason for releasing the Liang-Liang Hai's crew, Siazon said, "The Chinese claim that they had motor problems and they drifted for five days, so they will be allowed to leave with the ship escorted."

Sun Heping, a Chinese embassy official, flew to the Palawan capital of Puerto Princesa to help in the release of the crewmen.

President Estrada had ordered an investigation following Beijing's claim that the fishermen were unarmed. The Chinese embassy submitted a note verbale explaining the fishermen's side, claiming that the boat became adrift after suffering engine trouble. Malacañang clarified that it was not "a diplomatic protest." - With AFP