PHL execs verifying 'bullying' of Pinoy students in Taiwan schools

Philippine officials in Taiwan are verifying reports that Filipino pupils in Taiwan schools are being taunted by Taiwanese schoolmates over the May 9 incident in disputed waters where a Taiwanese fisherman was killed.
 
Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) head Amadeo Perez Jr. said such an incident was reported at a school in Taiwan late on Monday.
 
In a radio interview, Perez said Philippine officials will talk to the school administrators about the matter if they verify the reports.
 
"Pwedeng magpadala kami ng kawani ng MECO, makiusap kung pwede sabihan ang bata na huwag magbitiw ng salitang pananakit sa kapwa nilang estudyante," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.
 
Meanwhile, Perez reiterated his reminder to Filipinos in Taiwan not to stay outside if they have no important business, even if the tension has somewhat eased.
 
He said the MECO has not received any report of harassment against Filipinos over the May 9 incident in the past week.
 
The incident had prompted Taiwan to freeze the hiring of new Filipino workers, and to issue a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines.
 
However, Perez said it is still better to stay home or to go straight home from work, just to play safe.
 
"Sinasabihan ko pa rin ang kababayan natin huwag sila magkampante. Alam nyo may isa o dalawa, mainit ang ulo sa mga Pilipino, maaksidente, sila ang tamaan," he said.

May 9 incident
 
As the Taiwanese government turned up the pressure on the Philippines over the death of the Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters, come OFWs received the brunt of the outrage of the Taiwanese public, with Filipinos reporting market vendors that refuse to sell to them and the burning of the Philippine flag and effigies of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.
 
The row between the Philippines and Taiwan stemmed from the killing of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng by Philippine law enforcers in disputed waters on May 9.
 
The Taiwanese government issued an order freezing the hiring of new Filipino workers after saying that the initial apology of the Philippines through Basilio was insincere.
 
Taiwan demanded for an apology from the Philippine government, compensation for the family of the slain fisherman, impartial investigation on the incident and bilateral talks between the two countries to avoid similar incidents.
 
Aquino has already issued an apology to Taiwan, which rejected his apology as "insufficient in sincerity" and slapped additional sanctions including a red travel alert urging Taiwanese not to visit the Philippines and the suspension of exchanges between high-level officials, as well as a halt to exchanges on trade and academic affairs.
 
Taiwan also recalled its envoy to Manila in protest of the killing.  - VVP, GMA News

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