MANILA (Updated 3:59 p.m.) -- Malacañang ordered Tuesday an investigation on the grounding of a Chinese vessel in Tubbataha Reef.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a text message to reporters, said the Palace received a report that a Chinese fishing boat ran aground close to midnight on Monday near the southern portion of North Islet in the Unesco World Heritage site.

"Park rangers are already conducting the necessary investigation on the incident," she said.

The Tubbataha Management Office has alerted the Provincial Committee on Illegal Entrants about fishermen on board the boat, she added.

The grounding of a Chinese ship came after the extrication late last month of a United States Navy vessel, which also got stuck in the Tubbataha Reef on January 17.

Valte said the Philippine Coast Guard will release further details as may be necessary of the grounding of the Chinese boat. (SDR/Sunnex)