MANILA—"Noted. Next."

This was the response of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to China's statement that it did not abandon 22 Filipino fishermen after sinking their ship near Reed Bank last Sunday.

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In a tweet, Locsin said government will move forward with the military's version of the incident.

Or "NOTED. NEXT." And we press on with our military's version. I don't trust civilians on security issues; our military can never be our enemy; civilians on the other hand well… A soldier is a civilian with a steel backbone. A civilian is just that—a civilian. https://t.co/xM96RaKF9u

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 15, 2019

The Armed Forces' Western Command earlier said the incident was "far from accidental" and likened it to a "hit and run."

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Beijing, through its embassy in Manila, however, said the captain of the Chinese ship tried to save the fishermen but was "afraid of being besieged by other Filipino fishing boats."

The foreign affairs chief said he has ordered the Philippine Embassy in London to appeal to the UK-based International Maritime Organization.

"Was in Geneva; now at UN. Proper official response to Chinese version—whether it changes or changes back or whatever—is simply: "NOTED". Kiko was on to something. China is free to do the same. We press on with our version. I authorized London PE to appeal to IMO in London," he said.

Was in Geneva; now at UN. Proper official response to Chinese version—whether it changes or changes back or whatever—is simply: "NOTED". Kiko was on to something. China is free to do the same. We press on with our version. I authorized London PE to appeal to IMO in London.

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 15, 2019

Locsin was referring to Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, who called the Chinese version of the incident "as fake as its territorial claims."

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In its statement to IMO, the embassy urged member states of the organization and the United Nations to "put a premium on protecting life at sea in cases of maritime distress."

Our statement at the International Maritime Organization 14 June 2019. pic.twitter.com/qf59j1Coov

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 15, 2019

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest against China over the incident.

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