Alfonso Borbon stood in his private study, his face etched with disappointment and frustration. Five days had passed since he had requested an official apology and compensation for the Filipino fishermen from the British government. To his dismay, their response had not been one of reconciliation and understanding but rather an assertion of authority.
The British government had issued a statement claiming that the Filipino fishermen were at fault for trespassing into their waters, and the patrol ship had merely been performing its duties. The audacity of their response left a bitter taste in Alfonso's mouth. To add insult to injury, they implied that it was the Philippine government that owed an apology.
