Ex-Palace official finds former WesCom chief’s explanation inconsistent

Ex-Palace official finds former WesCom chief’s explanation inconsistent

FORMER Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo pointed out an inconsistency in the explanation given by former WesCom Chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos.

Panelo stated that Carlos should have clarified what they truly discussed with the Chinese official during their phone conversation.

“You know, I’m listening to his (WesCom chief) explanation. Isn’t what we’re talking about is that according to China, there is a new model, a model that they will follow to maintain peace. But this one denies it, ‘so we don’t have an agreement.’ In the end, he said in his explanation, because he was asked ‘What did you talk about? What is the gist?’ He answered, ‘Well the conversation covered ways and means.’ What they talked about was ways and means by which we can reduce the tension in the West Philippine Sea. Well, that’s not the new way they’re talking about. so, what can we do to deescalate,” stated Atty. Salvador Panelo, Former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.

The explanation of Carlos doesn’t appear to match, according to Panelo in relation to the Senate hearing regarding the alleged ‘new model’ agreement between China and the Philippines.

Panelo wondered why Carlos needs to deny it if what was discussed were the ways and means to relieve the tension in the contested territory in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“The weak one is the one who asks. He should have asked ‘what are the methods or ways and means’ that they have talked about to reduce the tension,” Panelo added.

In the end, even if there was an exchange of proposals, Panelo said, in the conversation between Carlos and the Chinese official, it will still be subject for approval by a government official higher than them.

In the Senate hearing about the alleged ‘new model’ agreement, Carlos previously denied that there was no such agreement and that they did only was discuss methods on how to relieve the tension in WPS.

“I did not enter into any secret deals that will compromise the interest of our country.”

“We did not discuss the ‘New Model’, we did not discuss the term common understanding new model were note part of the conversation.”

“…And we thought about how to reduce the tension in the West Philippine Sea particularly during our Rotation and Resupply mission in the Ayungin Shoal,” according to Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, Former WesCom Chief.

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