#Philippines to send couple to #China over diplomat killings

Philippine police will hand two suspects in the killing of two Chinese diplomats to Chinese embassy officials because of diplomatic immunity, police sources said on Thursday, after a freakish restaurant shooting in the central Philippines.

24, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said, a Chinese consular officer and her husband, who allegedly killed two other Chinese diplomats and wounded their consul-general in a Philippine city, have been taken back to China where they will be tried.

Surveillance camera footage reportedly shows Li carrying out Wednesday’s shootings, which killed the deputy consul general at China’s Consulate in Cebu, Sun Shan, and consulate finance officer Hui Li.

But in his comments to reporters, Jose did not clarify their positions or identities, and said authorities still did not know why the shootings took place.

“I was informed they have already been flown out to China”, Banas said, according to AFP.

Police say the alleged attacker, Li Qingliang, is the husband of another diplomat, Guo Jing, who has also been taken into custody.

Malacañang said, however, that the Philippine National Police was investigating Li and Gou, as required under Philippine laws.

The couple departed Cebu on Friday, hours after Mayor Michael Rama ordered police to force the couple to stay and face charges.

“The couple… are still in our custody but in view of an agreement between the Philippines and China, we would respect and honor their immunity”, said a senior police officer, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

China’s consul-general in the central city of Cebu survived after being shot in the neck, but two of his staff members died during the lunchtime attack at a restaurant last Wednesday.

“Having diplomatic immunity, only his government can waive his right and his government has already invoked diplomatic immunity”, Jose said.

“We’re still trying to determine the motive for the shooting”, said Chief Superintendent Prudencio Banas.

“As soon as their security team from Beijing arrives here we will turn over the custody to the Chinese side”, Jose said.

The Cebu police meanwhile clarified that the gun used by the suspect in the shooting and a gun registered to an owner in Valenzuela City had the same serial number but the latter’s gun was of a different make or type.