RP rep to Taiwan asked to explain ‘joint probe’

MANILA – President Benigno Aquino III has asked the explanation of Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) Resident Representative Antonio Basilio for his supposed letter allowing a joint investigation on the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman on May 9, a Palace official said Monday.

A team of Taiwanese who went to Manila last week reportedly showed a letter allegedly sent by Basilio to them, which allowed the joint probe.

The letter was dated May 10.

“There are some questions that have been raised because of that and the President has made the proper inquiries on it,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

But she stressed that the only letter authorized by the President was the one brought by Meco Chairman Amadeo Perez to Taiwan last week.

“I can tell you that only the last letter that was transmitted to them was authorized by the President. And I understand the contents of the letter were very precise and that it was em- phasized there, it was made very clear, that the President had already tasked the National Bureau of Investigation which, in our view, has already proven their impartiality in past investigations and their objectivity, again, in past investigations that they have been tasked by the President to undertake,” Valte said.