DND has yet to confirm presence or withdrawal of Chinese vessels near Pagasa Island 0 SHARES Share it! Share TweetBy Aaron RecuencoThe Department of National Defense (DND) has yet to confirm whether or not Chinese fishing vessels have indeed started withdrawing from the waters off Pagasa Island as claimed by the Philippine envoy to China. DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said that they could not even confirm if, indeed, there were 100 Chinese fishing vessels and Chinese militia, which surrounded the Pagasa Island, in the first place. Pagasa Island is one of the disputed islands and rock formations in the West Philippine Sea which is being occupied by the Philippines. “We could not verify one if there were really 100 fishing vessels around Pagasa and two if indeed withdrawal took place,” said Andolong.

Source: Manila Bulletin June 09, 2019 09:33 UTC