The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has expressed doubts on the authenticity of the supposed recorded phone conversation between one of its high-ranking officials and  a diplomat from the Chinese Embassy in Manila in connection with the purported “new model” in the conduct of resupply missions at the Ayungin Shoal.

In a statement, AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr. said that such a claim appears to be a  malign influence effort from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

“Transcripts can easily be fabricated, and audio recordings can be manufactured by using deep fakes. These reports only aim to serve as a distraction from the China Coast Guard’s ongoing aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea,” Brawner said.

The conversation was allegedly between Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos and an unnamed Chinese diplomat wherein the discussion focused on the former allegedly confirming that top Philippine defense and security officials have agreed to the “new model” to ease the tension in the West Philippine Sea.

Carlos was already replaced after he reportedly went on leave long before the issue of the “new model” for the Ayungin Shoal resupply mission became controversial.

Regular resupply missions are done for the Filipino soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre which was deliberately marooned in 1999 in the shallow waters of the Ayungin Shoal. 

But the resuplly missions are usually challenging as Chinese vessels would block Philippine vessels and would even use high-pressure water cannon. 

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro stressed that only the President of the Philippines can enter into an agreement with foreign governments as he emphasized that the presence of the recorded phone conversation, if indeed true, is a violation of the country’s Anti-Wiretapping Law.

The Chinese Embassy Manila allegedly threatened to release both the audio recordings and the transcript of the conversation supposedly to counter the denial of top Philippine military and defense officials.

But the AFP said the claim of the Chinese Embassy in Manila is not worth dignifying.

“The AFP will not dignify the claim of the Chinese Embassy in Manila that our organization has agreed to a 'new model' for conduct in the Ayungin Shoal,” Brawner said. 

“China’s claim of an audio recording allegedly between Vice Admiral Carlos and a Chinese diplomat does not merit significant concern as it appears to be a malign influence effort from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” he added.

Brawner then urged both the public and the media to handle such reports with care.

“The AFP remains to be a professional organization. We urge the public and the media to handle such reports with care and to avoid spreading unverified information that could further escalate tensions or mislead public opinion,” said Brawner.