MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. called on the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday to investigate how unnamed people in the Chinese embassy in Manila allegedly recorded a supposed phone conversation between a Chinese diplomat and a top Armed Forces official discussing a so-called new model agreement on rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last January.
He said if proven true, those involved should be expelled from the Philippines for admittedly violating the Anti-Wiretapping Law as well as rules on international relations.
Teodoro said he doubts the authenticity of the recording “given the propensity of the Chinese government to engage in malign information activities.”
“This is what we have to focus on, if this statement is truly from the Chinese embassy and they recorded anyone from the Philippines, then they admit that they violated the Anti-Wiretapping Law of the Republic of the Philippines,” he stressed.
Teodoro said the Department of National Defense now leaves it up to the DFA to look into the truth of what really happened and if it really happened and if it did, sanctions must be imposed.
“We have to find out who is responsible and expel them from the Philippines,” he noted.
On the part of the DND and the military, Teodoro said operational security measures will be strengthened, given the fact that there really is “disinformation, malign influence and undesirable actions of agents of foreign governments.”
He announced that necessary steps will be taken to protect the DND, AFP and the Filipino people as he reiterated the statement of the DFA that only the President may enter into any agreement on the West Philippine Sea or any other international matter through the DFA.
Reports said the allegedly recorded two-minute phone conversation was between an unnamed Chinese diplomat and AFP Western Command (WESCOM) Commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos.
The supposed discussions involved talks on how the RORE missions to Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre remains beached, can proceed without interference from the China Coast Guard (CCG) or maritime militia vessels through a compromise agreement.
Carlos is now being accused of claiming that the negotiations had the blessing of Teodoro and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, both of whom have vehemently denied and dismissed as falsehoods that form part of China’s propaganda and effort to cause division among Filipinos.
Three days after the Chinese embassy tagged him as the one who allegedly negotiated the “new model” deal that allowed at least one RORE mission to be carried out smoothly on Feb. 2, the AFP said Carlos has gone on personal leave that the military insists has nothing to do with the allegations against him.
Carlos has been replaced temporarily by Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres, who now commands the WESCOM unit based in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and has jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea.
The AFP is yet to issue any statement as to whether or not an investigation will be conducted against Carlos.
Meanwhile, the supposed new model deal over Ayungin Shoal is not binding because the WESCOM has no authority to finalize an agreement with other countries without the involvement of the DFA, retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio said.
Carpio added that the Anti-Wiretapping Law was violated with this recording, unless the AFP official agreed to have the conversation taped.
“If the Chinese embassy official is entitled to diplomatic immunity, he cannot be prosecuted but he can be expelled as persona non grata,” he said.
The United States continues to be alarmed by China’s irresponsible behavior and incidents in the South China Sea.
“We continue to monitor what’s happening in the South China Sea, we continue to be alarmed when these incidents happen, whether it be with Philippine vessels or other vessels,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros slammed China’s “information warfare” in falsely claiming that the Philippines entered into a new model agreement to manage maritime tension at the West Philippine Sea.– Pia Lee-Brago, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Cecilia Suerte Felipe, Daphne Galvez, Evelyn Macaira