Carlos on leaked convo: I thought it was just a New Year greeting

Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos | PHOTO: Official X page of Western Command AFP / @TeamWESCOM

MANILA, Philippines — Embattled Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the former chief of military’s 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.

READ: Ex-Wescom head Carlos breaks silence: No ‘new model’ talks with China

“According 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?” Tolentino asked in a mix of Filipino and English.

In response, Carlos said: “We were discussing possible ways to deescalate and reduce the tension in my area of operation, plus at the same time, it’s New Year when I receive  the call, I thought they were just going to greet me ‘Happy New Year’.”

But Tolentino pointed out that the Chinese celebrate the New Year in February.

“I’m 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,” Tolentino said.

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

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’s wiretapping law.

He also denied that “new model” and “common understanding” were discussed.