Chinese execs shooting: Two suspects get immunity

CEBU, Philippines - Observing bilateral agreements between the Philippine government and the Chinese government, the Police Regional Office-7 will have to free and turn over to the Chinese government the couple involved in the shooting that injured the Chinese consul gene-ral and killed two Chinese consular officers.

Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, the regional director of the PRO-7, said this was after the Chinese Embassy communicated with the Department of Foreign Affairs to invoke the diplomatic immunity of Li Qing Liang, 60, and his wife Gou Jing, 57.

“I was briefed that that was covered by the bilateral agreements between our government and the government of China,” said Bañas.

He said while only Jing is a Chinese consular officer, her husband is also covered by immunity since they were issued diplomatic visas.

With this, Bañas said they will have to discuss with the DFA on how to go about the matter and will eventually turn over Liang and Jing to the Chinese Embassy. But he said processes have to be observed before the turnover, as of now the couple will be under the custody of the DFA.

First in Philippines

Bañas said as far as he can remember, this is the first time in the Philippines when diplomatic immunity was invoked for people involved in a crime, and so they have to review the protocols.

“Because as you see, there are bilateral agreements that we have to observe and also the provisions of which are stated on those bilateral agreements. And the PNP is also observing those protocols as guided by the DFA,” said Bañas.

He also said as of yesterday, they still do not know the couple’s motive in shooting Chinese Consul General Song Ronghua, Chinese deputy Consul Sun Shan and finance officer Hui Li since the couple will not cooperate with them.

Ronghua was only hit in the arm but Shan and Li died after they were hit in the collarbone and head, respectively.

Last Wednesday afternoon, all of these Chinese nationals, together with four others, were celebrating Ronghua’s birthday at a restaurant in General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City.

Footage from the restaurant’s security cameras showed that at the end of their lunch, an argument ensued before the actual shooting.

Some staff inside the restaurant heard the argument but did not understand what it was about.

Police say it was clear from the footage that Liang shot the victims with a .45 cal. pistol and his wife later took the firearm. The couple then left the restaurant for the Chinese Consulate.

Police went to the consulate and took them to the Cebu City Intelligence Branch office for questioning. However, the two reportedly did not cooperate with the police in their investigation.

Bañas clarified the couple was not arrested since the consulate is considered Chinese territory.

DFA official statement

The DFA said in their official statement  that the Chinese Embassy in Manila and the Chinese Consulate General in Cebu are fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigation.

“The two sides will properly handle this matter in accordance with the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations and the 2009 Consular Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said.

Jose said that upon the request of the Chinese Embassy, the two suspects are being held by the police in Cebu until they are turned over to China.

Chinese embassy officials arrived for a conference with the police but declined an interview with the local press while police investigators are also silent on the case.

The prosecution of the two suspects will now be in the hands of the Chinese government.

The consular office is temporarily closed to service visa applications and other processes until October 26. — with Dale G. Israel/BRP