Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos | PHOTO: Official X page of Western Command AFP / @TeamWESCOM
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Embattled Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the former chief of military鈥檚 Western Command, said he was under the impression that his leaked conversation with a Chinese official regarding the West Philippine Sea issue was informal and cordial.
Carlos responded when asked by Senator Francis Tolentino to clarify the circumstances of their conversation.
He said this exchange occurred in January while aboard a warship in the West Philippine Sea.
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鈥淎ccording to your mind while the convo was going, just trying to lay some basis here, could it be that the conversation was just a a casual chat?鈥� Tolentino asked in a mix of Filipino and English.
In response, Carlos said: 鈥淲e were discussing possible ways to deescalate and reduce the tension in my area of operation, plus at the same time, it鈥檚 New Year when I receive聽 the call, I thought they were just going to greet me 鈥楬appy New Year鈥�.鈥�
But Tolentino pointed out that the Chinese celebrate the New Year in February.
鈥淚鈥檓 not trying to assume that the other party is in a celebratory mood because of the New Year festivities but because I assume that they have another new year, the Lunar New Year,鈥� Tolentino said.
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Carlos said his conversation with the official was brief, lasting only about three to five minutes.
The official also denied that he gave consent to be recorded in apparent violation of the country鈥檚 wiretapping law.
He also denied that 鈥渘ew model鈥� and 鈥渃ommon understanding鈥� were discussed.