Palace: PH went the 'extra mile' on Taiwan
by Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 05/16/2013 2:58 PM | Updated as of 05/16/2013 2:58 PM
Says sanctions would hurt Taiwan too
MANILA - Malacañang said the Philippines “has gone the extra mile” in responding to the demands of Taiwan following the death of a Taiwanese fisherman, including sending a personal representative of President Aquino to convey his and the Filipino people’s expression of regret and apology.
“We did what a decent member, a respectable member of the international community, should have done. And we did it. We have gone the extra mile. The President has sent a personal representative to extend his apology to the family of Mr. Hung Shi-chen. We have acted uprightly and decently as a respectable member of the international community,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the Philippine government has prepared a contingency plan to deal with the sanctions imposed by Taiwan. At the same time, the Palace pointed out that the sanctions would not do both sides good.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda cited the red alert imposed by Taiwan on travel to the Philippines as an example to show that the sanction will also hurt Taiwanese airline companies.
“We have already prepared for the contingencies. A ban on travel will not only hurt us, it will hurt both countries. It does not do anyone any good. A travel from their end will be affected as well. Their airlines will be affected. So does it help both countries if you do a travel ban?” Lacierda said.
Lacierda declined to elaborate on the contingency plan.
He dismissed statements that the Philippines violated international law, reiterating that incident happened in Philippine waters.
“Our Coast Guard has already mentioned that the incident happened within our exclusive economic zone and we have no dispute to that effect. Based on our statement previously and based on the statement of chairman Perez, we certainly regret the loss of life and we apologize for the unfortunate and unintended loss—but let me emphasize—in the course of a fisheries law enforcement operation within our waters,” Lacierda said.
The Palace declined to comment on observations that the Taiwanese government may just be exploiting the issue for political reasons especially since Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou’s is suffering from low approval ratings. Lacierda said it is for the public to judge if it is indeed so.
'DON'T HURT OFWs'
Meantime, the Palace appealed to the people of Taiwan not to vent their anger at Filipinos there amid reports that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are being harassed.
Lacierda trusts that these are isolated incidents.
“Ito pong ginagawa ng iilang Taiwanese, naniniwala kami na ito po ay isolated incidents lang po. Hindi po ito kagagawan po ng sambayanang Taiwan. Naniniwala kami at nirerespto namin ang ating mga kaibigan na nasa Taiwan. But let me also again appeal to them, to the Taiwnaese people, to refrain from hurting or making our Filipino compatriots there as instrument of their anger. It does not sit well with anyone… We would expect that they will be treated decently as we do treat their Taiwanese nationals here decently,” Lacierda said.
PEREZ’s STATEMENT
The Palace belied reports that Taiwanese officials snubbed the President’s representative. Lacierda said that MECO chair Amadeo Perez was able to meet with Director-General Benjamin Ho of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Lacierda read the following statement of Perez issued in Taiwan before he left for the Philippines:
“In my capacity as the designated personal representative of President Benigno S. Aquino III, I came to convey the President’s and the Filipino people’s deep regret and apology over the unfortunate and unintended loss of life in the course of a fisheries law enforcement operation on 09 May 2013 by a Philippine Coast Guard/Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources maritime patrol in waters in the northern Philippines.
“I also came to convey our readiness to give financial assistance to the family of Mr. Hung as a token of solidarity and as an expression of sympathy by the Filipino people for the demise of Mr. Hung.
“Upon orders from the President, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already initiated the investigation and is committed to a thorough, exhaustive, impartial and expeditious investigation of the incident. The NBI has given this case the highest priority.
“I am grateful for the meeting with Director-General Benjamin Ho of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last night. We understand the grief and hurt of the family and of the people of Taiwan over this unfortunate loss and we wish to reaffirm the high regard and respect of the people of the Philippines for the people of Taiwan.”
NO JOINT INVESTIGATION
Asked about reports that Taiwanese investigators have flown to Manila to conduct a probe into the incident, Lacierda said the Philippine government was not made aware of Taiwan’s plan and that there are protocols to go through under a mutual legal assistance arrangement.
MANILA - Malacañang said the Philippines “has gone the extra mile” in responding to the demands of Taiwan following the death of a Taiwanese fisherman, including sending a personal representative of President Aquino to convey his and the Filipino people’s expression of regret and apology.
“We did what a decent member, a respectable member of the international community, should have done. And we did it. We have gone the extra mile. The President has sent a personal representative to extend his apology to the family of Mr. Hung Shi-chen. We have acted uprightly and decently as a respectable member of the international community,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the Philippine government has prepared a contingency plan to deal with the sanctions imposed by Taiwan. At the same time, the Palace pointed out that the sanctions would not do both sides good.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda cited the red alert imposed by Taiwan on travel to the Philippines as an example to show that the sanction will also hurt Taiwanese airline companies.
“We have already prepared for the contingencies. A ban on travel will not only hurt us, it will hurt both countries. It does not do anyone any good. A travel from their end will be affected as well. Their airlines will be affected. So does it help both countries if you do a travel ban?” Lacierda said.
Lacierda declined to elaborate on the contingency plan.
He dismissed statements that the Philippines violated international law, reiterating that incident happened in Philippine waters.
“Our Coast Guard has already mentioned that the incident happened within our exclusive economic zone and we have no dispute to that effect. Based on our statement previously and based on the statement of chairman Perez, we certainly regret the loss of life and we apologize for the unfortunate and unintended loss—but let me emphasize—in the course of a fisheries law enforcement operation within our waters,” Lacierda said.
The Palace declined to comment on observations that the Taiwanese government may just be exploiting the issue for political reasons especially since Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou’s is suffering from low approval ratings. Lacierda said it is for the public to judge if it is indeed so.
'DON'T HURT OFWs'
Meantime, the Palace appealed to the people of Taiwan not to vent their anger at Filipinos there amid reports that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are being harassed.
Lacierda trusts that these are isolated incidents.
“Ito pong ginagawa ng iilang Taiwanese, naniniwala kami na ito po ay isolated incidents lang po. Hindi po ito kagagawan po ng sambayanang Taiwan. Naniniwala kami at nirerespto namin ang ating mga kaibigan na nasa Taiwan. But let me also again appeal to them, to the Taiwnaese people, to refrain from hurting or making our Filipino compatriots there as instrument of their anger. It does not sit well with anyone… We would expect that they will be treated decently as we do treat their Taiwanese nationals here decently,” Lacierda said.
PEREZ’s STATEMENT
The Palace belied reports that Taiwanese officials snubbed the President’s representative. Lacierda said that MECO chair Amadeo Perez was able to meet with Director-General Benjamin Ho of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Lacierda read the following statement of Perez issued in Taiwan before he left for the Philippines:
“In my capacity as the designated personal representative of President Benigno S. Aquino III, I came to convey the President’s and the Filipino people’s deep regret and apology over the unfortunate and unintended loss of life in the course of a fisheries law enforcement operation on 09 May 2013 by a Philippine Coast Guard/Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources maritime patrol in waters in the northern Philippines.
“I also came to convey our readiness to give financial assistance to the family of Mr. Hung as a token of solidarity and as an expression of sympathy by the Filipino people for the demise of Mr. Hung.
“Upon orders from the President, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already initiated the investigation and is committed to a thorough, exhaustive, impartial and expeditious investigation of the incident. The NBI has given this case the highest priority.
“I am grateful for the meeting with Director-General Benjamin Ho of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last night. We understand the grief and hurt of the family and of the people of Taiwan over this unfortunate loss and we wish to reaffirm the high regard and respect of the people of the Philippines for the people of Taiwan.”
NO JOINT INVESTIGATION
Asked about reports that Taiwanese investigators have flown to Manila to conduct a probe into the incident, Lacierda said the Philippine government was not made aware of Taiwan’s plan and that there are protocols to go through under a mutual legal assistance arrangement.
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