Carlos put ‘under guidance’ of AFP chief after leaked West PH Sea call

Former AFP Western Command Chief Alberto Carlos with DND Undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga during the Senate hearing on alleged China wiretapping on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, where Carlos denied that he did not consent to a recording of his conversation with a Chinese diplomat or even forging a secret deal regarding the West Philippine Sea. Carlos has been reassigned to the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo after being relieved of his duties as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos has been reassigned to the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo after being relieved of his duties as chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command.

AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a press conference in Taguig City that Carlos will be “under the guidance of the Office of the Chief of Staff” at the headquarters in Quezon City.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said Carlos’ reassignment to the General Headquarters’ Support Command is not a punitive action against the vice admiral.

READ: Carlos: Transcript of China call ‘twisted, manipulated’

Controversy hounded Carlos after the Chinese embassy presented a supposed transcript of an allegedly wiretapped conversation between him and a Chinese diplomat regarding the “new model” deal for Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal.

Carlos was removed as chief of Wescom after the Chinese embassy’s revelation.

In a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Carlos confirmed that such a conversation took place but denied it had anything to do with the “new model” and “common understanding” in Ayungin Shoal, as claimed by China.

READ: Ex-Wescom Chief: I didn’t give consent to Chinese embassy’s recording

He also said he did not consent to being recorded during the conversation.

Republic Act No. 4200 prohibits recording any private conversation without the consent of all parties.