No shots fired in apprehending Chinese fishing boat in disputed waters – PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) denied on Thursday that shots were fired when its maritime patrol apprehended what it said is a Chinese fishing vessel in the disputed waters off Palawan on Tuesday morning.
PNP Maritime Group director, Chief Supt. Niel Vargas, said in a press conference that they have no information that shots were fired, contrary to what Beijing authorities were claiming.
“I don’t know where they got their information,” Vargas said.
Vargas said the PNP Special Boat Unit were informed about fishing vessels loading endangered marine turtles in the southern part of Palawan, prompting them to conduct five days of surveillance.
Vargas said maritime police shadowed local boats from Balabac headed for the West Philippine Sea, The local boats stopped beside a foreign vessel and transferred the turtles.
“The SBU accosted one of the local boats and the foreign vessel. The other local boats were able to flee,” said Vargas.
He said 200 live turtles and 250 dead ones were found on the boat, which was being towed to Puerto Princesa City.
ANTHONY VARGAS