Spitting now part of harassment of OFWs in Taiwan
Despite a statement from Malacañang that the tension between the Philippines and Taiwan has defused, some Filipinos in Taiwan still can't sleep well for fear of being attacked, while others claim harassment has yet to stop.
In a report by GMA News' John Consulta on “Balitanghali,” a Filipino worker in Taiwan said she was spat at and cursed by a Taiwanese while on her way to work one day
“May dumura sa akin [kaya] umiwas ako. Tapos bigla na lang nagsisisigaw,” the Filipino worker said, adding the Taiwanese was accusing Filipinos of being killers.
“Natakot na ako [kaya] tumakbo na ako,” the worker said.
The harassment started May 9 when Filipino authorities shot and killed a Taiwanese fisherman who was part of a group allegedly poaching in Philippine waters.
The Filipino worker, identified in the report as “Ellen,” said she relayed the incident to their church’s priest, who in turn reported it to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Philippines’ consular office in Taiwan.
Sleepless in Taiwan
Despite the ongoing investigation, Father Nilo Mantilla of St. Christopher's Church in Taipei said even he fears the ongoing situation there.
“Kami dito tensyonado talaga, may mga gabi talagang feeling ko 'di ako makatulog kasi ang daming tawag,” he said in an interview aired on “Balitanghali.”
Meanwhile, Pastor Edgar Valdoria of the Jesus is Lord Movement in Taiwan appealed to both Taiwanese and Philippine governments to resolve the tension as it is affecting ordinary workers there.
“Yan ang panalangin talaga namin, na ang ating gobyerno at ang Taiwanese government ay open sa lahat ng dialogue na makakabuti sa magkabilang bansa, dahil tayo ang pinakamalapit na magkapit bahay among all Asian countries,” he said.
Investigation
An eight-man Philippine investigating team led by lawyer Daniel Daganzo is already in Taiwan to investigate the incident. A Taiwanese team is also in the Philippines for its own probe.
The Philippines and Taiwan have been engaged in a spat following the death of Hung Shih-cheng, 65.
According to Consulta, who is in Taiwan, the main objective of the Philippine team is to inspect the fishing vessel to determine if the Taipei police’s data will match that of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
According to Taiwanese authorities, their initial investigation showed at least 45 recovered bullets and 59 bullet holes on the vessel.
Consulta said the NBI team expects to stay in Taiwan until Friday to investigate the incident. It is expected to speak with the family of the slain fisherman to try to negotiate a possible exhumation of his body for re-autopsy.
The team will also seek to determine if the incident happened within Taiwanese waters, as Taipei authorities claim, or in the Philippines’, as asserted by the Philippine Coast Guard.
Consulta said on Monday morning that Taiwanese authorities have been accommodating to Philippine media, even assigning a police escort to his crew as they traveled to the slain fisherman's hometown, in case residents became hostile. No such reaction took place, he said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK/HS, GMA News
In a report by GMA News' John Consulta on “Balitanghali,” a Filipino worker in Taiwan said she was spat at and cursed by a Taiwanese while on her way to work one day
“May dumura sa akin [kaya] umiwas ako. Tapos bigla na lang nagsisisigaw,” the Filipino worker said, adding the Taiwanese was accusing Filipinos of being killers.
“Natakot na ako [kaya] tumakbo na ako,” the worker said.
The harassment started May 9 when Filipino authorities shot and killed a Taiwanese fisherman who was part of a group allegedly poaching in Philippine waters.
The Filipino worker, identified in the report as “Ellen,” said she relayed the incident to their church’s priest, who in turn reported it to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Philippines’ consular office in Taiwan.
Sleepless in Taiwan
Despite the ongoing investigation, Father Nilo Mantilla of St. Christopher's Church in Taipei said even he fears the ongoing situation there.
“Kami dito tensyonado talaga, may mga gabi talagang feeling ko 'di ako makatulog kasi ang daming tawag,” he said in an interview aired on “Balitanghali.”
Meanwhile, Pastor Edgar Valdoria of the Jesus is Lord Movement in Taiwan appealed to both Taiwanese and Philippine governments to resolve the tension as it is affecting ordinary workers there.
“Yan ang panalangin talaga namin, na ang ating gobyerno at ang Taiwanese government ay open sa lahat ng dialogue na makakabuti sa magkabilang bansa, dahil tayo ang pinakamalapit na magkapit bahay among all Asian countries,” he said.
Investigation
An eight-man Philippine investigating team led by lawyer Daniel Daganzo is already in Taiwan to investigate the incident. A Taiwanese team is also in the Philippines for its own probe.
The Philippines and Taiwan have been engaged in a spat following the death of Hung Shih-cheng, 65.
According to Consulta, who is in Taiwan, the main objective of the Philippine team is to inspect the fishing vessel to determine if the Taipei police’s data will match that of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
According to Taiwanese authorities, their initial investigation showed at least 45 recovered bullets and 59 bullet holes on the vessel.
Consulta said the NBI team expects to stay in Taiwan until Friday to investigate the incident. It is expected to speak with the family of the slain fisherman to try to negotiate a possible exhumation of his body for re-autopsy.
The team will also seek to determine if the incident happened within Taiwanese waters, as Taipei authorities claim, or in the Philippines’, as asserted by the Philippine Coast Guard.
Consulta said on Monday morning that Taiwanese authorities have been accommodating to Philippine media, even assigning a police escort to his crew as they traveled to the slain fisherman's hometown, in case residents became hostile. No such reaction took place, he said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK/HS, GMA News
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