Vice Adm Alberto Carlos denies forging agreement with China on West Philippine Sea

Former AFP WESCOM commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos denied forging any agreement with China on a 'new model' for handling West Philippine Sea tensions during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, May 22.

Carlos stated that the conversation was informal and lasted only three to five minutes, focusing on exploring ways to reduce tension in the area but not discussing any formal agreements.

He admitted speaking with Chinese Military Attaché Senior Colonel Li last January but denied giving consent for their conversation to be recorded or entering into any binding agreement compromising national interest.

Carlos emphasized that no 'new model' was mentioned during their discussion and clarified that he did not respond to a recent message from the Chinese official.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino raised questions on the procedure of declaring a diplomat persona non grata following Carlos' testimony, while DFA Assistant Secretary Aileen Rau clarified that such actions require evidence of wrongdoing or legal cases filed with law enforcement agencies.

DOJ Senior State Counsel Atty. Fretti Ganchoon said the Chinese Embassy may have violated Philippine laws by leaking what was believed to be a transcript of the conversation, potentially constituting wiretapping.

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada vowed to file appropriate remedial measures in response to what he noted as an apparent manipulation of the supposed transcript to suggest a secret deal between Carlos and Chinese officials.