PH envoy says apology is to family of fisherman,not to Taiwan government

By Ellen Tordesillas. VERA Files

Antonio Basilio

Antonio Basilio

By Ellen Tordesillas,VERA Files

Philippine Representative in Taiwan Antonio Basilio said Sunday his apology to the family of the fisherman who was killed Thursday by a member of the Philippine Coast Guard in an incident in the disputed waters off Northern Philippines is not the government’s formal apology being demanded by Taiwan.

In an interview, Basilio, resident Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, said together with Taiwan’s Foreign Minister David Lin, he visited Saturday the family of Hung Shih-cheng, the 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman who was killed after a Coast Guard personnel fired upon the fishing boat Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28 in waters both claimed by the Philippines and Taiwan as part of their 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones.

Asked if his apology can be considered the Aquino government’s apology to Taiwan, Basilio replied, “The apology was to the family. It’s different from the Philippine government apology to the Taiwan government. “

Basilio said the the government’s formal apology being demanded by Taiwan will be decided after the investigation is completed which is expected within this week.

Taiwan media reported that the office of President Ma Ying-jeo issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Aquino government “to arrest those responsible for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman, issue a formal apology and compensate the victim’s family.”

If the Aquino government Manila fails to respond to their demands within 72 hours, which commenced “12 a.m. on May 12,” Taiwan will freeze Philippine worker applications, recall its representative in Manila and ask the Philippine representative to return to Manila to help in the investigation, reports said.

Basilio said, “we will try to reasonably comply” with Taiwan’s demands . He said both the Philippines and Taiwan have agreed to cooperate in each other’s investigations.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail F. Valte said, “The investigation has commenced with the arrival of the commander of MCS 3001 and that he, together with the crew, have been relieved of their duties.”

“The Philippine Coast Guard, together with other agencies, assures everyone that this investigation will be conducted in an impartial, transparent and expeditious manner, “ she said.

Last Friday, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said, “If somebody died, they (the family) deserve our sympathy but not an apology.”

“The Philippine government’s attitude is outrageous and unacceptable,” Taipei Times quoted Ma as having said.

It also said Ma has come under pressure from the public and lawmakers across party lines to take a tougher stand on the incident.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin Hau said the Taipei city government would retract its invitation to the Philippines to attend the Dragon Boat Festival next month.

Hua also said Taipei will suspend all exchanges with Manila and Quezon City — both sister cities of Taipei — as well as the city government’s plan to donate two ambulances to the Philippines.

Despite the absence of official diplomatic ties due to the Philippines’ one-China policy, economic relations with Taiwan remains robust. About 83,000 Filipinos work in Taiwan. Bilateral trade between Taiwan and the Philippines amounted to $6.17 billion in 2011 with Taiwan as the country’s sixth top trading partner.

Taiwan and the Philippines are both claimants to islands in the Spratlys in the South China Sea ( referred to by the Philippines as West Philippine Sea) together with China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)