Expel Chinese embassy execs over phone wiretap – Gibo

MANILA, Philippines —  Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. called on the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday to investigate how unnamed people in the Chinese embassy in Manila allegedly recorded a supposed phone conversation between a Chinese diplomat and a top Armed Forces official discussing a so-called new model agreement on rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last January.

He said if proven true, those involved should be expelled from the Philippines for admittedly violating the Anti-Wiretapping Law as well as rules on international relations.

Teodoro said he doubts the authenticity of the recording “given the propensity of the Chinese government to engage in malign information activities.”

“This is what we have to focus on, if this statement is truly from the Chinese embassy and they recorded anyone from the Philippines, then they admit that they violated the Anti-Wiretapping Law of the Republic of the Philippines,” he stressed.

Teodoro said the Department of National Defense now leaves it up to the DFA to look into the truth of what really happened and if it really happened and if it did, sanctions must be imposed.

“We have to find out who is responsible and expel them from the Philippines,” he noted.

On the part of the DND and the military, Teodoro said operational security measures will be strengthened, given the fact that there really is “disinformation, malign influence and undesirable actions of agents of foreign governments.”

He announced that necessary steps will be taken to protect the DND, AFP and the Filipino people as he reiterated the statement of the DFA that only the President may enter into any agreement on the West Philippine Sea or any other international matter through the DFA.

Reports said the allegedly recorded two-minute phone conversation was between an unnamed Chinese diplomat and AFP Western Command (WESCOM) Commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos.

The supposed discussions involved talks on how the RORE missions to Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre remains beached, can proceed without interference from the China Coast Guard (CCG) or maritime militia vessels through a compromise