‘Cooperative’ Agreement Made Between PHL and Taiwan

On Monday, an agreement between the Philippines and Taiwan has been made to conduct cooperative investigation regarding the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard.

In a report, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the agreement was made during a meeting of National Bureau of Investigation officials and Taiwanese prosecutors.

Taiwanese authorities upon agreement will allow an NBI team to enter Taiwan for an inspection of the Taiwanese fishing boat the Guang  Ta Hsin 28.

The Philippines also will allow inspection of the MCS-3001 which the Philippine Coast Guard was aboard and jointly operated s with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

It has been reported that there was a similar undertaking between Taiwan and Philippines seven years ago. The Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) mentioned about a Taiwanese vessel that was shot by the Philippine National Police (PNP) last January 15, 2006.

Both countries sent authorities to investigate the vessel during that time.

Sources: inquirer.net, mb.com.ph