8 Philippine Coastguard Personnel Charged with Homicide

     The 8 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel involved in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman that encroached in our territorial waters a few months ago have been charged with homicide. This was according to the latest news on TV a few days ago. The PCG men tried to apprehend the fisherman but instead of slowing down, the Taiwanese boat tried to ram the Coast Guard vessel as it speeded up to flee the area.

      The PCG personnel chased the Taiwanese vessel and several times the poachers tried to hit them, this was according to the Coast Guard men. The PCG then fired warning shots but the Taiwanese boat and its crew did not take heed. This left the PCG men no other choice but to fire at the Taiwanese boat to protect themselves.

     The death of the Taiwanese fisherman caused an uproar on the Taiwanese Government and its people. Thousands of Filipino Overseas Workers (OFWs) were harassed and some were verbally and physically abused by the Taiwanese. Tens of thousands of OFWs working in Taiwan were denied renewal of their work permits and were threatened to be send home by their Taiwanese employers.

       Back in the Philippines, tens of thousands of applicants for Taiwanese jobs were also banned from flying to Taiwan because of the row. The Taiwanese Government issued demands for the Philippines to comply before the ban will be lifted. The President of the Philippines must apologize, the incident must be jointly investigated, the Taiwanese fisherman’s family must be properly compensated and that the PCG men must be punished for their crimes.

        Well, the Philippine Government have bowed down to the Taiwanese demands. The 8 Philippine Coast Guard personnel are now facing criminal cases. According to the PCG top brass, the Coast Guard are now low in moral because of this development. Can you blame them for feeling low morale? I mean, after performing your sworn duties to serve and protect your country’s territory on the high seas you are rewarded with criminal raps?

         It sucks to be poor, not only as an individual but also as a nation. You will get bullied, disrespected and abused by other countries….