No apology for Taiwanese deportation: Philippines

No apology for Taiwanese deportation: Philippines
Feb 11, 2011 03:37
SKYVIA Points: Join Date: Nov 22, 2010 Status: offline	The Philippines said yesterday it is not apologizing for deporting 14 Taiwanese to Chinese mainland, a move that has angered Taipei because it appeared to suggest that Beijing, not Taiwan, has jurisdiction over the deportees. The Philippines considers Taiwan a part of China but maintains friendly, if unofficial, relations with Taipei. The group of 14 Taiwanese were arrested in December. Charges have been filed in the mainland related to an investment scam that defrauded people in the mainland. They were picked up when an Internet Protocol address was traced to them in the Philippines, and deported to the mainland last Wednesday. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Philippines was unlikely to apologize because the deportees were undesirable aliens who were subjects of an arrest warrant and wanted by Interpol. They also did not have travel documents when arrested, she added. However, Taiwan's representative to the Philippines, Donald C.T. Lee, said the suspects' travel documents were seized when they were arrested. Lee demanded an apology Wednesday, saying the Philippines succumbed to pressures from Beijing and should have sent the deportees to Taiwan which has jurisdiction over them. He indicated the “serious mistake” would have repercussions on 80,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan. President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday he plans to send an emissary to Taiwan to explain his government's decision. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there was no need to apologize. “The evidence is in Chinese mainland, the crime was committed in the mainland so it was in our best interest, in our national interest, to deport them to mainland,” Lacierda told reporters.

Feb 11, 2011 03:37

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The Philippines said yesterday it is not apologizing for deporting 14 Taiwanese to Chinese mainland, a move that has angered Taipei because it appeared to suggest that Beijing, not Taiwan, has jurisdiction over the deportees.

The Philippines considers Taiwan a part of China but maintains friendly, if unofficial, relations with Taipei.

The group of 14 Taiwanese were arrested in December. Charges have been filed in the mainland related to an investment scam that defrauded people in the mainland. They were picked up when an Internet Protocol address was traced to them in the Philippines, and deported to the mainland last Wednesday.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Philippines was unlikely to apologize because the deportees were undesirable aliens who were subjects of an arrest warrant and wanted by Interpol. They also did not have travel documents when arrested, she added.

However, Taiwan's representative to the Philippines, Donald C.T. Lee, said the suspects' travel documents were seized when they were arrested.

Lee demanded an apology Wednesday, saying the Philippines succumbed to pressures from Beijing and should have sent the deportees to Taiwan which has jurisdiction over them.

He indicated the “serious mistake” would have repercussions on 80,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan.

President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday he plans to send an emissary to Taiwan to explain his government's decision.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there was no need to apologize.

“The evidence is in Chinese mainland, the crime was committed in the mainland so it was in our best interest, in our national interest, to deport them to mainland,” Lacierda told reporters.

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