Fishing dispute

MANILA, Philippines: The Philippine president’s spokesperson says the Chinese coast guard’s seizures of fish caught by Filipino fishermen near a disputed shoal are unacceptable.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque presented three fishermen who described their travails at a news conference.

Roque said he had raised the incidents with the Chinese ambassador in Manila, who assured them that the Chinese coast guard personnel would be punished if the Filipinos’ complaints were proven after an investigation. – AP