Foreign Press Liaison Office
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China
Press Release
Aug. 7, 2013
Taipei, Manila call for homicide charges in Guang Da Xing No. 28 case
The ROC and Philippine governments released their investigation reports on the Guang Da Xing No. 28 shooting incident at separate news conferences Aug. 7, with both sides recommending that eight Philippine Coast Guard personnel be prosecuted for homicide.
Taipei released its report at a news conference presided over by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ting Joseph Shih and Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Ming-tang, one hour after Manila’s news conference.
The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation report, approved by President Benigno S. Aquino III, concluded that the assault by a Philippine government vessel on the Taiwan fishing boat caused the death of fisherman Hong Shi-cheng (also spelled Hung Shih Cheng). It further recommended charges of obstruction of justice against four PCG crew members for tampering with video footage of the incident and submitting a falsified gunnery report.
The incident occurred May 9 in the overlapping exclusive economic zones of the ROC and the Philippines. PCG crewmen fired 108 rounds from a .30-caliber machine gun, M16 and M14 rifles at the unarmed fishing boat, hitting it with 45, after the boat fled from pursuit by the Philippine patrol vessel.
Amadeo Perez Jr., chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, has said he will visit Taiwan on behalf of President Benigno Aquino III to publicly apologize to Mr. Hong’s family and the people of Taiwan, as well as provide a full account of the efforts the Philippine government has made regarding the case, in hopes of mending Taiwan-Philippine relations. An agreement on compensation has also been reached between attorneys for MECO and for the victim’s family.
On Taiwan’s side, the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office announced earlier the same day that it will press charges of homicide against the same eight PCG personnel named in the Philippine report. Under ROC law, the penalty for homicide is death, life imprisonment or imprisonment for not less than 10 years, while in the Philippines the statutory sentence is imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years.
From the outset of the incident, the ROC government has taken a proactive, firm stance in ongoing talks with the Philippine government to obtain justice for the victim’s family, protect the interests of fishermen and defend the country’s dignity and position. Following the Philippines’ positive and concrete response to its four demands, the government is deliberating the lifting of the 11 sanctions it has imposed on the Philippines.
Based on the traditionally friendly ties between Taiwan and the Philippines, the ROC will take concrete measures to further strengthen bilateral relations in trade and economy, science and technology, and culture.
Separately, the ROC Coast Guard Administration patrol vessel Wei Hsing rescued three Filipino fishermen adrift in waters south of Taiwan July 21 and arranged their speedy and safe return home.
