Fishermen Indonesian Imam Buchaeri, left, Taiwanese Hong Jie Shang, center, and Hong Yu Zhi, right, listen during the start of a hearing at the Philippine Department of Justice in Manila. They testified at the hearing against eight members of the Philippine Coast Guard involved in the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) slapped with homicide case for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in May last year posted bail for their temporary liberty.
Lawyer Rodrigo Moreno, counsel for the accused, in a phone interview, said the Coast Guard men posted P40,000 bail before the Manila Regional Trial Court for the homicide case and P12,000 bail for obstruction of justice before the Metropolitan Trial Court.
The homicide case is pending before the Batanes Regional Trial Court while the Obstruction of Justice is pending before the Cagayan court.
Ordered arrested by the Basco, Batanes Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Ramon Barona are Coast Guard Commander Arnold Dela Cruz, Seaman 2nd Class Nicky Aurello, Seamen First Class Edrando Aguila, Mhelvyn Bendo III. Andy Gibb Glofo, Sunny Masangkay, and Henry Solomon, and Petty Officer 2 Richard Corpuz.
On the other hand, ordered arrested for obstruction of justice by the Cagayan Municipal Trial Court are Commanding Officer Arnold Enriquez dela Cruz and Seaman 1st Class Mhelvin Aguilar Bendo II.
Moreno said even if the cases are before the Batanes and Cagayan Court, the accused are allowed to post bail in Manila.
Under the Rules on Criminal Procedure, Moreno said the accused are allowed to post bail in the area where they are arrested.
The accused fired at Taiwanese shipping vessel Guang Da Xing No. 28 and killed Hung Shih Cheng; they were patrolling the channel on board Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel MC5-3001.
The incident sparked tensions between Taiwan and the Philippines.
RELATED STORIES
Homicide raps filed vs 8 PCG personnel over Balintang Channel shooting