To sum up:
+ Former AFP WESCOM Chief Alberto Carlos confirmed a phone call with a Chinese diplomat but denied making ‘secret deals.’
+ Senators want DFA to study options for expelling a diplomat despite immunity and privileges cited in the Vienna Convention.
+ DFA is ready to take action against diplomats but warns against possible repercussions.
Metro Manila, Philippines — Former Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (WESCOM) chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos shed light on what transpired between what he described as an informal conversation between him and a Chinese Embassy official.
“I received a call early January, sir. I was on board a ship in the West Philippine Sea,” Carlos told the Senate committee on national defense and security.
He identified the Chinese officer as “Senior Colonel Li,” but could not recall his complete name.
In its website, the embassy listed Li Jianzhong as defense and military attache. NewsWatch Plus could not independently verify if he is the same person.
Carlos said the call was from a “familiar number” but was passed on to another Chinese official.
“I received the call. I did not initiate the call,” he said.
Carlos said the conversation focused on how China and the Philippines can manage tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“We talked about exploring ways to de-escalate the tensions in the West Philippine Sea in my area of operations,” said Carlos.
He denied discussing a “new model” with Beijing.
“I did not forge any agreement at the level and magnitude that would bind our two countries for the long term and redefine our foreign policy,” said Carlos.
He said the conversation lasted for three to five minutes. He added that he received a Viber message from the official reaching out to him, but he did not respond.
“It’s highly unusual po na tatawag, but we saw an opportunity to reduce the tension in the West Philippine Sea,” said Carlos.
China released a transcript supposedly about the conversation to two major broadsheets, but this was not raised by the senators. Carlos requested a closed-door session to discuss operational matters.
Costly phone call
Carlos has been relieved as WESCOM chief and replaced by Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr.
The military said Carlos was reassigned to the office of Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner at Camp Gen. Emiliio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“I did not enter into any secret deals. That will compromise the interests of our country,” Carlos said in his opening statement during the Senate hearing.
Carlos graduated from the 1989 ‘Makatao Class’ of the Philippine Military Academy. He was appointed WESCOM chief by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022.
Diplomatic immunity
Under Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a diplomat has immunity privileges.
“A diplomat can enjoy immunity from its civil and administrative jurisdiction,” the convention stated.
“Ang isang alagad po ng ibang bansa na na-accredit dito sa Pilipinas na diplomat nabibigyan po siya ng immunity and privileges,” said Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Mendiola Rau.
(Translation: A foreign official accredited in the Philippines as a diplomat has immunity and privileges.)
Rau said a military attaché is a diplomat.
In the case of declaring a diplomat a persona non grata or a person who is not welcome in the country, the DFA said it is deferring to law enforcement agencies looking into reports of wiretapping.
In a separate statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the DFA is ready to take the necessary actions if the supposed wiretapping is confirmed.
“Given the delicate nature of diplomacy and international relations, such actions will have to be undertaken with prudence and in full consideration of possible repercussions,” said Manalo.
Under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention, the receiving state may “at any time and without having to explain its decision, notify the sending state that the head of the mission or any member of the diplomatic staff of the mission is persona non grata or that any other member of the staff of the mission is not acceptable.”
But expelling a diplomat as a persona non grata is a delicate diplomatic move.
The other country may retaliate and expel a Filipino diplomat, or impose sanctions.
