Seven members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) charged for the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in northern Luzon in 2013 will be arraigned Monday (Sept. 1) by the Batanes Regional Trial Court.
State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said Branch 13 of the Batanes RTC is set to arraign the following in the death of fisherman Hong Shih Cheng, in a case that sparked parallel probes in Manila and Taiwan: SN2 Nicky Reynold Aurellio, SN1 Henry Baco Solomon, SN1 Andy Gibb Ronario Golfo, SN1 Sunny Galang Masangkay, SN1 Mhelvin Aguilar Bendo II, SN1 Endrando Quiapo Aguila and PO2 Richard Fernandez Corpuz.
Their co-accused in the homicide case, commander Arnold Enrique dela Cruz, was earlier arraigned on the same charges in July, and entered a not guilty plea.
Government prosecutors earlier said the accused PCG personnel headed by dela Cruz acted in unison with the common purpose of firing at the Taiwanese fishing vessel for it to submit for inspection last May 9, 2013.
There is no evidence to show that the Taiwanese fishing vessel posed a grave danger to the accused when the Coast Guard chased the Taiwanese boat off the coast of Batanes in Balintang Channel, the prosecutors added.
They rejected as well the claim of self-defense by the accused in justifying their shooting at the Taiwanese fishing vessel.
Last week, the seven Coast Guard personnel asked the Batanes RTC to dismiss the homicide case against them on the ground that the prosecution failed to present evidence showing that the crime took place, nor that the victim is indeed dead, in the absence of a death certificate presented in court.