Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he merely “noted” and did not accept the apology sent by the owner of the Chinese vessel that rammed the F/B Gimver-1 in Recto Bank last June 9.
“Hey morons! I merely noted the Chinese apology. I did not accept it. I am not a fisherman. Panelo merely expressed satisfaction with the Chinese apology for the incident and the offer of compensation and nothing more,” Locsin said in a tweet posted Wednesday.
Locsin was apparently responding to certain news reports stating that the Philippines has accepted the apology conveyed by the owner of the Chinese vessel involved in the sea incident which was coursed through the Guangdong Fishery Mutual Insurance Association.
According to the DFA, the letter conveying the ship owner’s apology was signed by Chen Shiqin Po, president of the association. It was sent to the Philippine Embassy in Beijing on Aug. 26.
The 22 Filipino fishermen who were on board the sunken fishing boat has yet to respond if they find the said apology acceptable.
Aside from the letter of apology, the Chinese fishermen association also asked the Philippine side to “file a specific appeal for civil compensation based on the actual lost.” (Roy Mabasa)