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Sacked Wescom chief hit Chinese envoy
By Nidz Godino
"First, I admit I had casual and informal conversation with Chinese military attaché but I condemned the act of Chinese embassy to record our conversation without my consent, much more to divulge it to public in malicious twist and manipulation in order to appear that our discussion to be supportive of narrative of PRC… I am not authorized to enter into agreements," former commander of Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (AFP-Wescom) has denied entering into any agreement with China involving dispute in West Philippine Sea.
During hearing of Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification and reconciliation, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos condemned alleged wiretapping of his conversation with Chinese embassy military attaché.
Chinese embassy neither responded nor sent any representative to Senate committee hearing chaired by Senate Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada investigating alleged wiretapping of ranking AFP official.
Senate secretariat had sent invitation, through Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on May 21, to embassy and AFP-Wescom as panel investigated supposed conversation between Carlos and Chinese official on "new model" to de-escalate tensions.
Carlos maintained he has no authority to enter into agreement with any country and that his main mandate is to conduct operations in West Philippine Sea to ensure territorial integrity and that sovereign rights are protected.
"We did not discuss 'new model…' we did not discuss term… 'common understanding' and 'new model' were not part of our conversation, I have not given up our sovereign rights and entitlement… I am soldier for Filipino people and I remain loyal servant of the Republic," he told the Senate panel.
Carlos recalled last January, Colonel Li of Chinese military called him on phone while he was aboard ship in West Philippine Sea. Conversation lasted three to five minutes.
"As WesCom commander, I have done my very best to provide for welfare of WesCom personnel… I did not enter into any secret deals that will compromise interest of our country," he added.
AFP official insisted he did not enter into any agreement with official that would pose threat to Philippine territory and did not agree on issue of bringing supplies to BRP Sierra Madre in West Philippine Sea, as China has insisted.
Further pressed by Estrada on gist of conversation, Carlos said discussion was about exploring ways to reduce tensions in WPS.
"From conversation, alleged new model came out," Estrada asked, but Carlos said: "we did not discuss new model and it was not part of our conversation."
While Chinese embassy snubbed committee hearing, Carlos said Chinese official sent him message two days ago but he did not reply.
Carlos was ready to detail content of text messages and other things discussed in January in executive session.
Earlier, Chinese embassy had threatened to divulge supposed transcript of conversation between Carlos and Chinese diplomat, where embassy claimed Philippine official expressed compliance with agreement for "new model."
Carlos did not know their conversation was recorded and he did not give permission for their conversation to be recorded.
An official said they have yet to investigate alleged wiretapping incident but AFP is willing to cooperate with appropriate agencies.
Carlos has now been reassigned to Headquarters Support Command (HSC) under office of AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. in Camp Aguinaldo.
Military however, quick to dismiss idea that Carlos is being punished or demoted.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said Carlos' reassignment forms part of normal occurrence in military organization.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino asked Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau if there would be consequences for alleged wiretapping involving Chinese embassy.
Mendiola-Rau said diplomatic agent is immune from criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction of receiving state, except in cases involving real actions related to private immovable property unless held for mission, succession matters where agent acts privately and professional or commercial activities outside their official duties.
Tolentino then asked if DFA has authority to declare diplomats as persona non grata and if DFA is conducting its own investigation into the matter.
Mendiola-Rau replied "DFA would have to defer to law enforcement agencies in looking into reports of wiretapping."
Department of Justice senior state counsel Frettie Ganchoon said there is order from Secretary of DOJ to National Bureau of Investigation to hear testimony of Carlos about authenticity of transcript.
"This is the first time that we are hearing sworn testimony of Vice Admiral Carlos…because we are not sure before of truthfulness and authenticity of transcript, so we don't know…but we have testimony now that we can use that indeed there was call and it was recorded and we can consider as violation of anti-wiretapping law," she said.
Meanwhile, Estrada said "alleged wiretapping incident is worrying…we should take steps about it... even more disturbing that we can be manipulated by these Chinese officials... they can manipulate conversation to disturb us to even suspect bemedaled officer like Vice Admiral Carlos who faithfully serves our people."
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