The more pressing issue

A joint probe will now be conducted by the Philippines, China, and a supposedly neutral entity on the incident at Recto Bank. We have heard DFA Secretary Locsin initially reject any joint investigation, calling it a violation of the country's sovereignty.

There are also concerns that a joint investigation with China would only end up in a whitewash, knowing this administration’s affinity for the Asian giant. But because President Duterte has accepted China’s offer for a joint probe, all must toe the line including Locsin who has since changed his tune. Nothing new there.

I do not understand why this administration is downplaying the incident with initial statements coming from some Cabinet members who described the hit as a graze or a scratch, hence accidental. If the boat was only grazed, why did it sink?

That’s like saying the road accident was just a fender-bender with one vehicle losing its entire engine. Why isn’t the administration bringing up the worst aspect of the Chinese deliberately leaving the already distressed Filipino fishermen? The reason that 42212 left the scene because "seven or eight Filipino boats besieging them" has already been disproven. China knows that they have no defense against the abandonment of our fishermen needing help. I can imagine China not giving importance to this issue once the joint investigations begin.

I also wonder what the fishermen talked about when Vice President Leni Robredo visited them? What their real thoughts and stories on the incident, as well as the circumstances when the administration started talking to them?

Did they have a different tale to tell, one not to this administration’s liking? Robredo and the fishermen did not release any statement regarding the meeting, only saying they were comfortable talking to the vice president. Since Robredo is a known opposition member, her statement will surely not be given any weight or importance by the administration.

It is interesting to note that after Agriculture Secretary Piñol's meeting with the fishermen, they now seem to be y.

Paminguitan is the town now known as Cortes (renamed in 1862 in honor of the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes). Its earlier name was Malabago, then renamed as Paminguitan. It was created as a parish in 1794 and is under the patronage of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Baclayon was created in 1717 under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The oldest entry in its baptismal books is dated October 14, 1759. The town of Balilihan (originally spelled as Balilijan) was erected as parish on May 20, 1829, under the patronage of Our Lady of Carmel. Its mother church is Baclayon. (To be continued)