For sure President Duterte is aware of the comments: he’s ready to declare war over garbage sales contracted by private parties, but his silence is deafening when Chinese believed to be maritime militias hit and sink a Filipino fishing boat and then abandon the fishermen to the elements.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who has not issued a statement on the incident, will not join the meeting because of a tight schedule, according to Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Nograles.

Beijing confirmed Saturday that a Chinese vessel hit a Philippine fishing boat in a collision which has increased tensions in the disputed South China Sea, but denied claims it was a "hit and run".

Why the deafening silence in response to all these?

Contradicting the pronouncement of Beijing on the collission of a suspected Chinese and Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Navy claimed that the Philippine boat was rammed.