MARIVELES, Bataan- Taiwanese investors and executives at the Freeport Area of Bataan here on Friday asked both governments of Taiwan and the Philippines to sit down and talk to settle the issue on the alleged shooting by the Coast Guard of a Taiwanese fisherman.
“The two governments should calm down and both sides should be open to talks to know the truth,” said Samson Su, plant manager of Fashion Textiles (FT) 21.
He said that this is the same sentiment of six other locators operating at the former Bataan Economic Zone turned into the FAB. FT 21 is one of seven Taiwanese-owned firms in Mariveles. It manufactures garments exported to America and Taiwan.
“There must be an open investigation, no secret but we hope that the shooting of a Taiwanese won’t happen again in the future,” Su said.
He said the Taiwan government has not sent them any message to pull out of Mariveles or the Philippines.
“I will stay, I will not pull out because we have good harmony with our workers and have many friends here and in Manila,” Su answered when asked if he will get out of the country when told so by their government.
The garments factory that has been in Mariveles for 17 years has 213 Filipino workers.
Other Taiwanese firms are into the manufacture of fiber glass boats, woven fabrics, plastic packaging for tennis balls, protective clothing and uniforms and elastic plaster and face mask with more than 1,000 workers.
Luis Gonzales, municipal administrator of Mariveles, said he does not think the small incident would destroy the good relationship of Taiwan and the Philippines. But he said the animosity must end and Taiwan should accommodate our country so they can talk.
“Taiwanese locators staying in Mariveles are enjoying the peaceful atmosphere so they will not favor any action against the Philippines their countrymen are doing in Taiwan,” Atty. Gonzales said.
“The Taiwanese locators can sleep soundly and feel safe regardless of what happens in Taiwan,” the administrator said when asked if the local folk will not retaliate should Filipinos be hurt in the unrest going on in the foreign country.
