Sen Tolentino seeks Senate probe on alleged China wiretap

Senator Francis Tolentino has called on the Senate Committee on National Defense to investigate allegations that China wiretapped military officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Western Command (AFP-WESCOM).

Tolentino requested this investigation through Senate Resolution No. 1023, citing a May 6 announcement by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian.

The committee chair Sen. Jinggoy Estrada confirmed that an initial hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday to address the alleged wiretapping incident.

Tolentino urged the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday to participate in the Senate's probe and cited possible violations of the Philippines' Anti-Wiretapping Law (RA No. 4200).

The senator noted that under RA No. 4200, intercepting private communications without consent is illegal, and violators could face consequences including waiving diplomatic immunity.

If evidence of wiretapping is found, the Philippine government could send non-diplomatic employees home, declare envoys persona non grata, or downsize the embassy.