PHILIPPINES-CHINA/SHOOTING REAX Philippines says it will hand over suspects involved in killing Chinese diplomats to China

Record ID: 134879

  • Title: PHILIPPINES-CHINA/SHOOTING REAX Philippines says it will hand over suspects involved in killing Chinese diplomats to China
  • Date: 22nd October 2015
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (OCTOBER 22, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PHILIPPINE FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT PHILIPPINE FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT EMBLEM PHILIPPINE FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON, CHARLES JOSE, WALKING TO PODIUM DURING NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALIST TYPING ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON, CHARLES JOSE, SAYING: "The shooti
  • Embargoed: 6th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADM2TTDV4MO6JXHAGS100MQT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Philippine authorities will hand over the two suspects involved in the killing of two Chinese diplomats at a bizarre restaurant shooting in the central Philippines to the Chinese embassy, the Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday (October 22).
    The husband of a Chinese woman working at a Chinese consulate in the central city of Cebu shot dead the deputy consul general and a senior staff member during a birthday lunch at the restaurant on Wednesday (October 21), police have said.
    Consul General Song Ronghua was also wounded in the shooting. His deputy, Sun Shen, was shot in the neck and died. Li Hui, a female finance officer at the consulate, was shot in the head and also died.
    The suspect was arrested and identified by police as Li Qing Liang. Li's wife, Guo Jing, who works in the consulate's visa section, was also held for questioning. Both requested diplomatic immunity, police said after the shooting.
    "The shooting was an extreme act of a relative of a staff of the consul-general. The Chinese Embassy in Manila and the Chinese consulate in Cebu has extended their full cooperation with Filipino authorities regarding the investigation. The two sides will handle the matter in accordance to the Vienna conventions on diplomatic and consular relations, and the 2009 consular agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China," Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said, reading out a statement on the incident.
    "Custody will be given to the Chinese side and they have to undergo the legal process in China," Jose added.
    China said investigations were underway.
    "In our understanding (of the situation), there was a shooting in Cebu on October 21, causing the death of two staff at Cebu's counsul-general and the wounding of one. We are deeply distressed that this kind of incident has taken place. The situation and reasons are under investigation so that it (the incident) can be understood better," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying.
    "As I said just now, the relevant situation and reasons for the shooting are under further investigation and this (incident) is being analysed. The Chinese side will handle the relevant issue in an appropriate manner in accordance with the relevant international convention and the China-Philippines bilateral consular agreement," she said.
    Rey Lawas, a police spokesman in Cebu city, said investigators believe the shooting could be the result of a personal grudge over financial matters between Li and Sun, the deputy consul general, or the woman finance officer.
    Waiters at the Lighthouse, a popular Filipino-food restaurant, have told police they heard shouting from a private room but could not understand what was being said.
    Minutes later they heard gunshots.
    The senior police officer said investigators would also look into how the pistol used in the shooting had been acquired.
    Another police officer involved in the investigation said the serial number on the weapon had been defaced and that it was similar to another gun registered in the capital, Manila.
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