3 witnesses recall killing of Taiwanese fisherman

MANILA, Philippines - The three companions of the Taiwanese poacher allegedly shot dead by a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) team in Balintang Channel last May testified during yesterday’s preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Accompanied by representatives of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), the three fishermen – Taiwanese Hong Yu Zhi and Hong Jie Zhang and Indonesian Imam Buchaeri – submitted their affidavits detailing how Hung Shih-cheng was killed by the PCG men led by Commander Arnold de la Cruz.

They subscribed their statements before the DOJ panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera.

Hong, son of the victim, recalled that their fishing vessel Guang Da Xing 28 was returning to Taiwan from Taitung Chengkung New Port to catch mahi mahi fish when the attack took place.

After the attack, the fisherman said they hid in the engine room of the vessel after placing it on auto navigation mode.

“About after an hour of being attacked, my father was shot and I heard him scream, but we were too busy refilling the hydraulic drive fluid for the auto navigation until we ran out of supply,” he recounted.

The two other witnesses corroborated Hong’s account.

Hong Jie added the attack came without warning.

The respondents, represented by lawyer Rodrigo Moreno, asked the DOJ to forward the case to the Office of the Ombudsman, saying Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has prejudged the case.

But the DOJ panel rejected the motion since the charges filed against the PCG men are not within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

The preliminary investigation on the homicide charges will continue on Sept. 16.

Aside from De la Cruz, other respondents are Petty Officer 2 Richard Fernandez Corpuz, Seaman 2nd Class Nicky Reynold Aurello, and Seamen 1st Class Edrando Quiapo Aguila, Mhelvin Bendo, Andy Gibb Ronario Golfo, Sunny Galang Masangcay, and Henry Baco Solomon.

The NBI also filed charges for obstruction of justice against De la Cruz and Bendo along with Marvin Ramirez and Martin Bernabe for allegedly submitting tampered evidence to the NBI, including “spliced” video footage.

According to the NBI, there was a conspiracy among the respondents. It explained that while it was Aguila who was found to have fired the M14 rifle that killed the Taiwanese, the seven others had admitted discharging their weapons.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese fisherman allegedly caught poaching in the country’s territorial waters in Batanes last week was ordered released from detention yesterday.

Police have yet to file formal charges against Tsai Po, 54, before the DOJ since his arrest on Sept. 3.

Batanes Provincial Prosecutor Alejo Tangaro Jr. ordered provincial police director Superintendent Eduardo Pamittan to release Tsai, of Pintung, Taiwan, to the custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Tsai will be turned over to the BI office in Cagayan within the week, according to BI regional director Eva Antiporda.

The Taiwanese fisherman was arrested by members of the Batanes police and the Bantay Dagat during a seaborne patrol near Ditarem Island in Itbayat town.

If proven guilty, Tsai is facing a fine of $100,000 for allegedly encroaching in Philippine territory.

An official of TECO, which represents Taiwan’s interests in the Philippines, arrived in Batanes over the weekend to visit Tsai.

Shao-Jyun Pan, assistant to the TECO representative in Manila, met Tsai at the airport escorted by a policeman.

Pan was accompanied by TECO executive assistant Wang Chih Yang.

The TECO official told The STAR that Tsai confided to him that he was treated well while in detention, contrary to reports that his rights were violated.

A provincial health officer examined the suspect after he was diagnosed with urinary tract infection. – With Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca, Jack Castaño