De Lima appeals for calm as NBI completes probe into Taiwanese fisherman’s killing

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima neither denied nor confirmed statements made Saturday by the Taiwanese government’s investigation team regarding the Balintang Channel shooting incident in which a Taiwanese fisherman was killed.

In a statement posted on the Department of Justice’s official Twitter account, De Lima appealed to Filipinos and Taiwanese to keep calm as the National Bureau of Investigation wraps up its probe into the incident.

“We advise everyone to just wait for the results of the NBI investigation and avoid making any speculations and/or premature disclosure of so-called ‘findings’ or information from so-called ‘insider sources.’” De Lima said, referring to media reports pinpointing lapses allegedly committed by the Philippine Coast Guard personnel during their confrontation with intruding Taiwanese fishermen.

“What we can assure everyone, including the Taiwanese authorities and Taiwanese people, is that NBI is conducting a fair, thorough and expeditious probe to arrive at a just and credible conclusion. That is the NBI’s mandate and NBI is perfectly cognizant of the seriousness and crucialness of its task,” she added.

She also appealed for media responsibility even as she ordered members of the NBI team and all officials of the agency privy to the investigation not to prematurely disclose the findings and results of the probe.

“Until the conclusion of the NBI probe and submission of its report, everyone, including the media, is urged to refrain from making statements relative to the probe that would further fuel or aggravate the prevailing tension between the Philippines and Taiwan,” she said.

De Lima added: “Like in previous high profile investigations, I have strict instructions to NBI not to prematurely disclose any findings to anyone, including media, from this investigation. We can only reveal the findings once the report is officially released. What can be occasionally shared with media are the steps and processes being undertaken in the course of the probe, but not findings, opinions or conclusions.”