www.inquirer.netPalace: No apology for Taiwan
Emissary to be sent to explain deportations
By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:08:00 02/11/2011
Filed Under: Foreign affairs & international relations, Diplomacy, Crime and Law and Justice, Conflicts (general)
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III will be sending an emissary to Taiwan to explain why the Philippine government deported alleged Taiwanese criminals to China even as his spokesperson said that the Philippines is not apologizing to Taipei for handing over the 14 Taiwanese to the Chinese.
Mr. Aquino Thursday sidestepped the question of an apology, as demanded by Taipei, saying that the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taiwan, was “handling the issue.â€
“Perhaps we just have to wait for the emissary who will be sent who is subject to restrictions imposed by our laws,†Mr. Aquino said at a news briefing.
He said the emissary will “discuss particular issues and explain why [we] decided the way [we] decided.â€
Repercussions
But in a news briefing earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Philippines was not apologizing despite the move having angered Taiwan which has indicated that there will be repercussions for Filipinos working in the island.
Lacierda said the 14 Taiwanese were deported to China “because we do not wish to be a haven of international crime syndicates†and that the government wanted to ensure their successful prosecution.
“The evidence is in China, the crime was committed in China, so it was in our best interest, in our national interest to deport them to China,†he said.
No justice
A senior diplomat at the foreign affairs department who asked not to be named said “the dilemma is that had they been deported to Taiwan, they would most likely have been set free because to our knowledge, there are no criminal charges pending there against them.â€
“This is what happened when a group of 18 Taiwanese were earlier allowed to leave for Taiwan on similar accusations of telecommunications fraud. The ends of justice would not have been served,†the same source said.
The 14 Taiwanese, along with 10 Chinese nationals, were arrested by Philippine authorities in December over alleged credit card fraud and all were deported to China last week.
On Wednesday, Taiwan accused the Philippines of bowing to pressure from Beijing over the “inhumane†deportation of the Taiwanese and warned of retaliatory action.
Donald Lee, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), Taiwan’s de facto embassy here, said Philippine authorities ignored his request for the suspected fraudsters to be returned to Taiwan.
“No prior notification of deportation was given to my office, and the deportation itself proceeded secretly at midnight, which shows no due respect to the government of Taiwan,†Lee told reporters.
He said the move greatly impaired relations with the Philippines, and warned Taiwanese authorities could retaliate against the tens of thousands of Filipino workers in the island.
Longer screening
Taiwan has already this week increased the screening period for Filipino people trying to enter the island to work, and threatened to bar them from entry completely.
Lee confirmed that he would temporarily head back to Taipei and would be leaving within the week.
Officials from the Chinese Embassy in Manila were not immediately available for comment.
China considers Taiwan to be its province and has been trying to isolate it internationally. The Philippines recognizes only the Beijing government, although it maintains economic and cultural ties with Taiwan. With Jerry Esplanada and Agence France-Presse
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