By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that the Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires had filed a protest on February 13 with the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the riot which followed the 10th round TKO victory of Filipino Johnriel Casimero in a battle for the IBF light flyweight interim-title against former champion Luis Lazarte last Februarey 11 in Mar del Plata.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a statement that "Our Embassy in Buenos Aires filed a protest on 13 Feb with the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the riot which happened on 11 Feb which placed the safety and wellbeing of Mr. Casimero and his team at great danger."

He said "We are now waiting for their explanation and response."

The DFA spokesnman said that on the same day "the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Argentine Embassy in Manila apologized to the DFA about the incident" while the Ambassador of Argentina in Manila has been summoned to the DFA this afternoon to express out concern about the riot and to ask for an explanation on the action taken by the Argentine government on the incident."

The Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires reiterated what was reported on the day of the incident by the Manila Standard that the riot lasted for over ten minutes and that Argentine police secured and escorted Mr. Casimero and his team to their hotel and stood guard until morning to ensure their safety. Argentine boxer Luis Lazarte and his fight promoter (Osvaldo Rivero) both went to the hotel to personally apologize for the incident.