NBI submits result of investigation on Taiwan boat shooting

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already submitted the result of its investigation on the shooting incident in Balintang Channel last May 9 where a Taiwanese fisherman was killed.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima in a text message confirmed receiving the NBI report Tuesday.

“Might submit it to the President today (Tuesday),” De Lima said in a text message to reporters.

The NBI team went to Taiwan last month to examine the vessel that was shot at by Philippine Coast Guard crewmen as well as interview its crew. On the other hand, Taiwanese probers flew into the country and examined the vessel used by the PCG, interviewed those involved in the incident and viewed the video taken by the Coast Guard on May 9.

Then last week, the Taiwanese probers sat down with the NBI to compare notes of their findings.

De Lima, however, said that the findings of the Philippines will be independent to that of the Taiwanese investigators.

She, however, was hoping that the parallel investigation would repair the strained relations between the Manila and Taipei.

With the death of fisherman Hung Shih-cheng last May 9, Taipei froze the hiring of new Filipino workers, expelled Manila’s envoy, suspended the travel of Taiwanese to the Philippines, and conducted military drills in disputed waters in a flurry of sanctions on Manila, and Taiwanese youngsters attacked Filipino workers.