Taiwan-based Pinoy beaten up with a pipe

At least one overseas Filipino worker in Taiwan has been physically attacked amid rising tension over the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters last week, a Taiwan-based Filipino said on Thursday. In a radio interview, the OFW identified only as "Roger" also said the Philippine office representing them, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), was inaccessible. "May sinaktan dito, (ginamitan ng) tubo. Lalaki siya, hindi namin makuha ang pangalan, nasa hospital siya," he said in an interview on dzBB radio Thursday noon. Roger also said they tried to contact the MECO but received no reply as an answering machine took their calls. However, MECO had posted an announcement on its website that it would be on holiday on May 14 and 15, "and will not transact business with the public except for release of visas from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30-5:30 p.m." Freeze hiring As the Taiwanese government turned up the pressure on the Philippines over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters, OFWs are reportedly receiving the brunt of the outrage of the Taiwanese public, with Filipinos reporting market vendors that refuse to sell to them and the burning of the Philippine flag and effigies of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. The diplomatic row between the Philippines and Taiwan stemmed from the killing of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng by Philippine law enforcers in disputed waters on May 9.   The Taiwanese government on Wednesday issued an order freezing the hiring of new Filipino workers after saying that the initial apology of the Philippines through Basilio was insincere.   Taiwan demanded for an apology from the Philippine government, compensation for the family of the slain fisherman, impartial investigation on the incident and bilateral talks between the two countries to avoid similar incidents.   The Philippines has already agreed to the latter two and Aquino has already issued an apology to Taiwan on Wednesday.   However, Taiwan rejected Aquino's apology as "insufficient in sincerity" and slapped additional sanctions including a red travel alert urging Taiwanese not to visit the Philippines and the suspension of exchanges between high-level officials, as well as a halt to exchanges on trade and academic affairs.   Taiwan also recalled its envoy to Manila in protest of the killing. - VVP, GMA News