DFA logo and building facade. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may expel a diplomat if evidence proves that the envoy violated the country’s laws and diplomatic protocols, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.
Noel Novicio, a foreign affairs appointee to Chief of Mission Class II, aired this view at the Senate’s committee on appointments’ meeting on the ad interim nominations of 16 DFA personnel.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada, head of the CA panel on foreign affairs, asked what his stand was on proposals to expel a Chinese diplomat allegedly behind “leaked” recordings containing supposed evidence that an official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command “agreed” to a “new model” in handling resupply missions to Ayungin.
“I think the DFA has issued a statement and I think the DFA is investigating that alleged leaks of important conversation. I think the governing rules that would apply to this instance is: Did they violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations?” said Novicio.
READ: PH security execs want China envoys expelled
“I think our colleagues from the DFA are investigating that one. And if there are reasons [or] evidence to expel or to declare a diplomat as a persona non grata, it’s within the rights of the host government for that matter,” he added.
Earlier, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año slammed the Chinese embassy for supposedly releasing “spurious transcripts” and “ recordings,” saying it should not be allowed to “pass unsanctioned or without serious penalty.”
READ: DFA: Only PH president can approve agreements on WPS, Ayungin
In an article published May 7, Bloomberg said China might soon release an audio recording allegedly proving that AFP Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos “agreed” to a “new model” in handling resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal.
Prior to the exposé, the DFA emphasized that only the country’s chief executive can authorize agreements entered into by the Philippine government on matters pertaining to the West Philippine Sea.