Philippine NBI recommend filing Criminal Charges Against PCG who defend the Philippine Territory ; killing Taiwanese Poacher

NBI Recommend filing Criminal Charges to Philippine Coast Guard that shoot dead Taiwanese poacher to the Philippines territory. Philippine Coast Guard slam the NBI's recommendation as they are just doing their job per order to defend the Philippine territory. The shooting incident occurred 79.2km Island of Luzon in the Philippine territory and 316.8km from Taiwan. Photo from INQUIRER

A Philippine government's investigating body has recommended the filing of criminal charges against several members of the Philippine Coast Guard for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman off northern Luzon in the Philippine Sea on May 9.

In a report sent to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified the Philippine Coast Guard personnel who fired their guns on the Taiwanese fishing vessel, the Guan Ta Hsin 28, including the person whose bullet fatally killed Hung Shih chen, the Inquirer quoted an unnamed source as saying.

"The shooter was identified through a cross-match between the slug recovered from Hung's body during autopsy and the signature of the coast guard's M14 rifle," the source explained, adding that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has received just a "thin report" because the annexes have yet to be forwarded to her.

The NBI has not specified if the coast guards would be charged with murder or homicide because of unresolved debates over the Philippine Coast Guard using "superior strength versus the Taiwanese fishermen," and that the killing of the Taiwanese fisherman was "not premeditated," said the source.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the shooting targeted the engine of the Taiwanese fishing boat to stop it from trying to ram the coast guard's vessel.

The shooting incident occurred 79.2km off island of Luzon in the Philippine territory and 316.8km from Taiwan, the source said. It was earlier identified as the Balintang Channel off northern Luzon.

The report has been forwarded to President Benigno Aquino, said Justice Secretary de Lima who refused to give more details. The presidential palace has not made an official statement regarding the matter.

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the de facto embassy of the Philippines in Taiwan, including the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), the de facto embassy of Taiwan in Manila have not confirmed receiving copies of the report.

The family of the Taiwanese fishermen has already filed murder charges against the Philippine Coast Guard in Pingtung County District Attorney's Office in southern Taiwan.

Two investigating bodies from the Philippines and Taiwan held parallel probes on the incident last week.

Taiwan demanded an official apology from the Philippine government, but rejected President Aquino's apology when he said the killing was not intentional.

Taiwan also demanded compensation for Hung's family and punishment for those who shot him.

Taiwan also froze new jobs for Filipino workers in Taiwan; suspended tourist travel to the Philippines; and temporarily ended trade and cultural exchanges with the Philippines.

With reports sources from BBC News, Gulf News and Philippine Daily Inquirer

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President Aquino Call all Filipinos to Unite & lay down one's life to defend the country from threats of the sovereignty and security

115th Philippine Independence Day 2013. With the cooling down of nationalism in the Philippines President Aquino calls all Filipinos to Unite & lay down one's life to defend the country from threats of the sovereignty and security.

Aquino on Independence Day: Follow Bonifacio

It's Independence Day, and President Benigno Aquino gives this annual ritual a twist. Unlike presidents before him, Aquino takes the celebration to the shrine of a hero for the poor.

For the first time, President Benigno Aquino leads the 115th Independence Day rites at Liwasang Bonifacio.

It's a shrine devoted to Andres Bonifacio, the hero who led the armed revolution against Spain.

The Palace says it's a recognition of Bonifacio's role in history. The country marks Bonifacio's 150th birth anniversary this year.

Watch the video here http://bit.ly/19uryDT

Aquino says Filipinos should follow Bonifacio's example. He calls for courage and love of neighbor.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Maliwanag po ang pahiwatig ng kanyang tindig: Karangalan ang magtaya ng buhay para sa bayan; taas-noo nating maipagmamalaki ang mga naiambag natin para sa kalayaan. Kasabay nito, tila mapanghamon din ang titig ni Bonifacio: Ikaw, Pilipino, ano na ang nagawa mo para sa iyong bandila at kapwa? (It's clear in his posture: It's honor to lay down one's life for the country; we take pride in our contributions to promote our freedom. At the same time, Bonifacio's gaze poses a challenge: You, Filipino, what have you done for your flag and your neighbor?)

Aquino says this in the face of protests over government services.

In Tutuban, Bonifacio's birthplace, militant groups denounce Philippine independence as fake. They downplay the government's economic gains.

A day before this, the National Statistics Office reports more Filipinos are jobless in April compared to the same period last year. This, despite a stellar 7.8 percent growth in the country's economy.

PATERNO ESMAQUEL, REPORTING: One hundred and fifty years ago, Andres Bonifacio fought to uplift the plight of the masses. But the same issues hound the poor to this day, posing a challenge for the Philippine government.

Aquino says ending poverty is everyone's responsibility.

BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Huwag sana tayong maghintay pa ng tatlondaang taon, o ng tatlong dekada, o kahit ng tatlong taon, bago tayo magpasyang magbuklod para maging malaya tayo mula sa gutom, kahirapan, o anumang banta sa ating soberenya't seguridad. Hindi tama na mapahaba pa ang pagtitiis ng mga Pilipino ni isang minuto. (Let us not wait for 300 years, or 3 decades or even 3 years before we come together in order to free ourselves from hunger, poverty or whatever threats to our sovereignty and security. It is not right to prolong the suffering of Filipinos by another minute.)

Today, Independence Day, Bonifacio, the hero of the masses, shines above other heroes from that era – a fitting symbolism for Aquino, whose stellar economic numbers have yet to trickle down to the working man.

Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Manila.

With report from – Rappler.com

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