Filipino boat captain Junel Insigne apologizes to President Rodrigo Duterte over the confusion on his supposed meeting with the President in Malacañang on Monday.
In a press conference, Wednesday, Insigne clarified that it was Agriculture Chief Manny Piñol who arranged a meeting with him, the vessel’s cook Richard Blaza and boat owner Fe Dela Torre.
“Humihingi po ako ng pahumanhin sa ating mahal na Presidente, na hindi po pala ako pinatawag, si Secretary Piñol po ang nagpatawag sa amin. Hindi po ako nakatuloy, umatras po ako dahil masama po yung pakiramdam ko,” Insigne said.
“So hindi po totoo ‘yung balita mayroong imbitasyon ang pangulo na makipag-usap sa kanya. This was a manufactured statement… But the captain told me he was never invited,” Piñol said.
The President called the ramming incident a ‘little maritime accident’. He also said to wait for the Chinese side of the story.
Malacañang however clarified that Duterte is not echoing China’s statement.
