Speaking for the first time on the June 9 sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel, President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday described the incident as a “little maritime accident,” and reiterated anew that the Philippines is “not ready to go to war” with China. In his speech at the 121st Philippine Navy Anniversary celebration held at Sangley Point in Cavite City on Monday evening, Mr. Duterte said: “In this matter of the incident na nagbanggaan iyong mga (on the collision of the) fishing boats… with all the galit (anger), even urging sending grayships doon sa (to) China Sea, alam mo gusto ko yan, kung ako lang. Gusto ko ng aksyon. (I want that, if it were up to me. I want action.) But I am not in my boyhood age anymore. I have a duty, a burden, sometimes more than I can carry.” He stressed there are rules being followed by the government in dealing with the issue, saying: “There will be rules for a military confrontation; there will be rules for a mistaken identity attack; there’s a rule for fishermen’s boats. There is a rule for aircraft carrier bumping a fishing boat.”

Balinbin, A. L., & Ferreras, V. A. C. (2019, June 18). 'A little accident': Duterte on boat sinking. BusinessWorld, p. S1/10.