Former Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Command (AFP-WESCOM) Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos denied forging any secret agreements with China and its officials.
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense, he said that, at his level, he had tried his best to operationalize the President's marching orders to de-escalate the tension in his area of operation.
It was the first time that Carlos addressed the issue following the disclosure of a diplomatic source from the Chinese embassy of a phone call that involved a “new model” that the Philippine government allegedly entered into with China.
"There are stories about me making secret deals with China and their officials. These are completely false," he said.
"I am not authorized to enter into agreements. And I will never pretend to be my country's authority on matters regarding policy and country-to-country agreements. That should have been obvious to China officials, as it is obvious to everyone else," he added.
Carlos reiterated that he did not forge any agreement at the level and magnitude that would bind the two countries for the long term and redefine foreign policy.
After being questioned by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, he admitted however, that there was indeed a phone conversation with a certain senior official of the Chinese Military Attache only identified by Carlos as a "Senior Col. Li" early in January that lasted for three to five minutes.
According to Carlos, it was the Chinese official who initiated the phone call.
"We did not discuss the 'new model.' The term 'common understanding', 'new model' were not part of our conversation, Mr. Chair," he said.
He mentioned that the conversation revolved around exploring ways to de-escalate or to reduce the tension in the WPS.
"Having coming from the December 2023 RORE where our supply ships were water cannoned and we were planning for the next RORE (rotation and resupply mission)," he said.
Carlos said that he can discuss the further details of the said RORE in an executive session.
Asked if his permission was asked to record the phone conversation, he replied: "I have not given my consent to record to anybody, and I have not been asked permission to do so."
Two days ago, Carlos said that the Chinese official messaged him, but he did not acknowledge it.
He was also asked by Estrada if he harbored any ill feelings towards Li, Carlos said that he had none, and that "it's part of the game."
Carlos said that the official apologized to him in a text message, and stated that it's a "reasonable assumption" that it was Li who leaked the phone conversation.
Meawnhile, according to Senior State Counsel Fretti Ganchiin of the Department of Justice (DOJ), upon hearing for the first time the sworn testimony of Carlos, since they were not sure of the authenticity of the transcript that was released by the Chinese Embassy, they can consider what happened was a violation of the Anti-Wiretapping Law.
"In fairness to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), they also did not know of the truthfulness of this transcript because anything that comes from our friend, from our neighbor, we treat it very carefully, Mr. Chair because we are in the middle of the fight for the WPS," she said.
"So anything that comes from them we treat them very carefully. So we did not accept it right away that this transcript is authentic, that transcript is true, that there was wiretapping but now that we have a sworn testimony from Vice Admiral, we thank him that there indeed was wiretapping," she added.
Official sources
Senator Francis Tolentino asked Manila Bulletin Publisher Herminio "Sonny" Coloma, Jr. about the veracity of the story it published online involving the wiretapped conversation.
Coloma stated that the reporter obtained it only through official sources from within the Chinese Embassy.
Asked if the management of the news organization reaches out to these "official sources" to confirm the information gathered by its reporters, he said: "Yun na po mismong pag-uulat ng aming reporter intrinsic po sa kanyang pagganap ng kanyang tungkulin yung pag ascertain na ang nagbibigay sa kanya ng impormasyon ay mga official sources (In writing the story, it is intrinsic upon our reporters' duty to ascertain that whoever is providing the information is an official source."
He added that the publication makes use of terms to denote its own appraisal of the information such as "allegedly" and "purportedly" to state that it does not have full faith and credence to what was stated.
"By that token, we are already signaling to our readers that this would have to be subjected to further validation," he added.
It can be recalled that a diplomatic source and his team from the Chinese Embassy met with Manila Bulletin and another selected media organization to discuss the details of the supposed "new model."
Continued admiration to Carlos
Sen. Robin Padilla, who was there at the hearing, expressed belief that Carlos did nothing wrong in having a conversation with the Chinese military official.
"Di para sa akin kasalanan kung magusap sila doon. Wala tayong formal declaration kaaway natin yan (For me there was nothing wrong with them talking to each other. We do not have a formal declaration that they [China] are our enemies)," he said.
He even mentioned that Carlos should no longer be required to attend the next hearing, expressing gratitude to his service.
Tolentino said that he can vouch for Carlos' integrity and competence.
"Let the record reflect that no amount of downgrading of a person's reputation can besmirch his records in the military service," he said.
Estrada on the other hand, expressed concern over the alleged wiretapping incident vowed to file appropriate remedial measures.
"Nakakabahala itong wiretapping incident kaya dapat meron tayong gawing hakbang tungkol dito. 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 (Alberto) Carlos na tapat na naglilingkod sa ating bayan (This wiretapping incident is alarming so there must be steps taken in line with this. It's also concerning that these Chinese officials can manipulate this conversation to disrupt and think bad of a bemedalled officer katulad ni Vice Admiral (Alberto) Carlos that is serving the country honestly),” he said.