By Leonel Abasola | Philippine News Agency
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (Wescom) chief, Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, has denied signing any secret deal with China.
“There are stories about me making secret deals with China and their officials. These are completely false,” Carlos said in a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
Carlos, however, admitted talking with a Chinese military attache he identified as a “Senior Col. Li” last January.
“I did not forge any agreement at the level and magnitude that would bind our two countries for the long term and redefine foreign policy,” Carlos told the members of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.
“As Wescom commander, I have done my very best to provide for the welfare of Wescom personnel. I did not enter into any secret deals that will compromise the interest of our country,” he added.
He also said he did not give consent to anybody to record his conversation with the Chinese official.
Carlos said the supposed agreement on a “new model” to handle the WPS issue was never part of their conversation that lasted only about three to five minutes.
At the same hearing, Department of Justice (DOJ) Senior State Counsel Atty. Fretti Ganchoon said the Chinese Embassy has violated the Philippine laws for leaking the supposed transcript of the conversation.
“It could be considered as a violation of the wiretapping law. This is the first time that we are hearing the sworn testimony of Vice Admiral Carlos because we are not also sure of the truthfulness, or the authenticity of the transcript,” Ganchoon said.
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada vowed to file appropriate remedial measures stemming from what he noted was the apparent manipulation of a wiretapped phone conversation between Carlos and the Chinese military attaché to make it appear that a secret deal was hatched to handle tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“Nakakabahala itong wiretapping incident kaya dapat meron tayong gawing hakbang tungkol dito,” said Estrada, chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security.
“At mas nakakabahala na kayang-kaya tayong manipulahin nitong mga Chinese officials, kayang i-manipulate ang isang conversation, pag-uusap para tayo ay guluhin at paghinalaan pa ang isang bemedalled officer katulad ni Vice Admiral Carlos na tapat na naglilingkod sa ating bayan,” he added.
Carlos revealed to the committee that the Chinese official had reached out to him two days ago.
“But I did not reply,” the AFP official said. “He sent me a message two days ago, Sir, but I did not acknowledge.”
He said he’s willing to disclose full details in an executive session.
“Guilty siya na siya nagpalabas (ng phone conversation)?” Estrada asked Carlos, to which the latter replied: “That is a reasonable assumption, Sir.”