Manila court convicts 8 PCG members over killing of Taiwanese fisherman in 2013

The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 on Wednesday, September 18, sentenced the personnel to eight years and one day to 14 years, eight months and one day in prison. (Shutterstock photo)

A Manila court found eight members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) guilty of homicide for the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman last 2013.

The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 on Wednesday, September 18, sentenced the personnel to eight years and one day to 14 years, eight months and one day in prison. Those convicted are: Commander Arnold Enriquez dela Cruz, Seaman 1st Class Edrando Quiapo Aguila, Mhelvin Aguilar Bendo II, Andy Gibb Ronario Golfo, Sunny Galang Masangcay, Henry Baco Solomon, Seaman 2nd Class Nicky Renold Aurello, and Petty Officer 2 Richard Fernandez Corpuz.

The court also ordered the accused to pay the heirs of the Taiwanese fisherman, Hong Shi Cheng, the amount of P50,000 in civil indemnity and P50,000 in moral damages.

The lawyer of the PCG personnel, meanwhile said, they would appeal the ruling before the Court of Appeals (CA).

“Let us not forget the Taiwanese boat was stealing from the Philippines. That is the bottomline, the PCG was protecting the Philippines from Taiwanese thieves,” lawyer Rodrigo Moreno said.

On May 9, 2013, a shooting incident happened between the PCG personnel and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) onboard BFAR MCS-3001 and a Taiwanese fishing vessel at Balintang Channel near Batanes, that resulted to the death of the Taiwanese fisherman.

According to the executive summary on the incident posted on the Official Gazette, the PCG-BFAR announced its presence when it sighted two Taiwanese fishing vessels bearing no flag of nationality and signaled them to stop for the conduct of proper boarding procedures.

The vessel, however, did not comply, prompting the PCG-BFAR to fire warning shots to “further alert it to stop.” Despite the warning, the vessel still did not comply but instead, “attempted to ram the PCG patrol craft on several occasions.”

But on the side of the Taiwanese fishermen, the Philippine vessel did not make any warning broadcast. The Taiwanese crew heard gunshots so their boat captain “increased speed, put his vessel on autopilot, and placed the throttle at full speed to escape.”

The incident created a rift between the two countries. Taiwan demanded an apology from the Philippines, which the latter did.