Manila Philippines – Senator Francis Tolentino wants the senate to conduct an investigation over the wiretapping operation done by Chinese Embassy officials in Manila.
Tolentino urges the Senate Committee on National Defense to conduct an thorough investigation related to the unlawful recordings between the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (AFP-WESCOM) and the official from the Chinese Embassy.
“This act (Anti-Wiretapping Act) deems it illegal for any individual, not authorized by all parties to a private communication or spoken word, to tap any wire or cable or use devices to secretly overhear, intercept, or record such communication or spoken word,” Tolentino told the Senate.
READ: BIDEN ADMIN, TO DELIVER $1-B WORTH OF FIREARMS, AMMUNITION TO ISRAEL
Tolentino files Senate Resolution No. 1023 that includes the Department of National Defense, the National Security Council and the official of the Chinese Embassy.
The investigation also want to determine the extent of China’s interference, as well as to study the scope of the Wiretapping Act and address this type of incident.
“If the act of wiretapping is proven to be accurate, China should formally apologize to the Philippines for the illegal acts of their officials, waive their diplomatic immunity, and let them face the consequences of their shameless and unbecoming act pursuant to Articles 9 (I )3 and 324 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular Relations,” the Senator added.
The Chinese embassy has not yet said whether Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian will attend the hearing.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and the DND initially insisted that only the chief executive can negotiate anything regarding the West Philippine Sea.
Until now, China has not released any transcript related to the alleged agreement in Ayungin Shoal, something that the Philippine government has denied.