Eight Filipinos sentenced over 2013 killing of Taiwanese (updates)

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/18
By: Chen Yen-chun and Joseph Yeh

Manila, Sept. 18 (CNA) A Manila court on Wednesday handed down prison sentences to eight Philippine coast guard officers over the 2013 fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in waters where the exclusive economic zones of the two countries overlap.

The ruling found the eight guilty of homicide and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from eight years and one day to 14 years 8 months and one day, for their involvement in the shooting death of 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng (洪石成).

The eight have been identified as Commander Arnold de la Cruz, Petty Officer 2 Richard Corpuz, Seaman 2nd Class Nicky Aurelio, Seaman 1st Class Edrando Aguila, Seaman 1st Class Mhelvyn Bendo II, Seaman 1st Class Andy Gibb Golfo, Seaman 1st Class Sonny Masangkay and Seaman 1st Class Henry Solomon, according to a report by English-language Philippine Star.

The court also ordered the men to "jointly and severally" pay the heirs of the killed fisherman 50,000 Philippine pesos (US$957) in civil indemnity and another 50,000 pesos in moral damages.
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