A RANKING Chinese official on Tuesday presented a recorded phone conversation purportedly between an embassy diplomat and Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, chief of the Western Command (Wescom), who said the entire chain of command of the Philippine military was on board with the “new model” for peacefully managing the situation in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
There was no way to immediately confirm if it was Carlos on the recording played for The Manila Times, as the vice admiral had gone on personal leave.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said Carlos’ leave had nothing to do with the “new model” that the Chinese Embassy in Manila said he agreed to, with the approval of ranking Philippine officials.
Transcript of the alleged recorded conversation made available for The Manila Times.
In the recording made on January 3, 2024, Carlos told the Chinese diplomat that his “bosses” concurred with the proposal, referring to the “new model” that China submitted to the Philippine government.
“And I can confirm that,” Carlos was heard in the recording telling the Chinese official.
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The Wescom chief also said the proposal had been approved by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Año and AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner.
“That is correct. I can confirm that also,” said Carlos when asked if his superiors gave their go-signal to implement the proposal.
The new model that is being referred to in the conversation was a proposal by Beijing designed to peacefully manage the situation in Ayungin, where Chinese ships have harassed and intimidated Philippine vessels.
The Chinese official said the “new model” had nothing to do with sovereignty but was “for peace and stability.”
The proposal contained four points.
First was the “1+1” model, which proposed that the Philippines would send only one Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel and one supply ship during resupply missions to Philippine troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin.
The Chinese side would only dispatch one China Coast Guard vessel and one China Maritime Militia ship to the area.
It was also proposed that the Philippines notify China two days in advance when a resupply mission would be conducted, that only food and essential supplies would be transported and that there would be constant communication between the two sides.
On Feb. 2, 2024, on the eve of the Chinese New Year, the Philippine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin was conducted without any incident, the embassy official said.
The Chinese official said even Padilla, the AFP spokesman, posted on social media that the Philippines “executed a flawless rotation and resupply operation.”
However, the Chinese official said, the new model was discarded unilaterally by the Philippine side “for no reason and no explanation.”
Padilla said Carlos’ post was temporarily assumed by Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command chief Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr.
She said she was not privy to Carlos’ reasons for going on leave.
“Let’s leave it at that he applied for personal reasons; let’s respect his decision to file for leave. It’s an inherent right of every individual to go on leave, for whatever reasons,” she said.
She said Torres’ designation is only effective during the “absence of the incumbent,” which started Tuesday.
She added that there is a need for a senior officer to supervise the Wescom in an acting capacity, considering the area’s critical importance.
Padilla said Carlos will return to his post once his personal leave is over.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said no Cabinet-level official of the Marcos administration agreed to any Chinese proposal pertaining to the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Only the President of the Republic of the Philippines can approve or authorize agreements entered into by the Philippine government on matters pertaining to the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea,” the DFA said.
The DFA also reiterated its position that the Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, including on the Ayungin Shoal.
It added that on issues of such importance, “any agreements or arrangements would be made only if authorized at the highest level of government.”
The DFA said the secretary of defense and national security adviser have both denied the existence of any informal arrangements on the Ayungin Shoal, which shows “the untruthfulness of China’s narrative.”
“China should desist from disseminating such disinformation or insinuations against Philippine officials, which create confusion among the Filipino public and distract from the real issues created by China’s unfounded claims and illegal and aggressive actions in our waters,” the DFA said.
The Philippines has been “earnest in seeking ways to reduce tensions with China through established diplomatic channels,” it added.
“If China is serious about properly managing the differences at sea, we urge China to favorably consider the standing Philippine invitation to convene the next meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea as soon as possible,” the DFA said.
WITH BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO, PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
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