AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. AFP FB PAGE
LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines — Noting that such a proof could be made by deepfakes, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday said he does not want to dignify Chinese embassy’s threat of releasing an audio proof about the purported “new model” in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal situation.
READ: China embassy’s ‘barking’ violates wiretapping law if claims true — Teodoro
The Chinese embassy presented a supposed transcript of an exchange between AFP Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos and a Chinese diplomat, claiming they also have an audio recording of the exchange, according to a Manila Times report.
“Transcripts can easily be fabricated, and audio recordings can be manufactured by using deep fakes,” Brawner said in a statement
Due to this, China’s claim is not a “significant concern” for the AFP, according to Brawner.
“China’s claim of an audio recording allegedly between Vice Admiral Carlos and a Chinese diplomat does not merit significant concern as it appears to be a malign influence effort from the Chinese Communist Party,” Brawner added.
“These reports only aim to serve as a distraction from the China Coast Guard’s ongoing aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea.”
Carlos is now on personal leave, and AFP said this has nothing to do with the issue.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday said that if the Chinese embassy’s claim of holding audio evidence of the “new model” is true, its officials violated the country’s wiretapping law.
READ: China embassy’s ‘barking’ violates wiretapping law if claims true — Teodoro