Asianews

Bet substitution by COC withdrawal banned

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to support the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in its probe on the alleged wiretapping activities of the Chinese embassy.

PNP information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said they are ready to give assistance in the NBI investigation, which was ordered by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Remulla issued the order after the Chinese embassy released a transcript of an alleged conversation between its diplomat and former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (Wescom) chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos.

The conversation, which supposedly occurred last Jan. 3, is about a “new model” for managing the dispute between the two sides on the Ayungin Shoal.

Chinese embassy officials, along with defense and security officials, would be invited by a Senate panel that would investigate, in aid of legislation, the alleged wiretapping against Carlos, which is considered a serious breach of existing international law for a foreign embassy.

In an interview, Sen. Francis Tolentino said the invitation was anchored on his Senate Resolution 1023, calling for the Senate committee on national defense chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to conduct inquiry.

Tolentino clarified that regardless of the outcome of the Senate investigation, the content would be extraneous from the NBI investigation. “We only want to know if there was wiretapping.”

He said that depending on the findings of the investigation, all embassy personnel, including non-diplomatic personnel, clerical staff, cooks and drivers who were given visas could have these canceled and they would be sent home.

“It can lead to a downsizi ng of the Chinese embassy in Metro Manila, it depends on what can be proven,” he said.

“They can be declared persona non grata, or they could be sent home. I would not preempt the Department of Foreign Affairs’ action, it can lead to the DFA calling for the reduction in the size of personnel of the embassy,” he added.

He said that downsizing an embassy would be a first. “The Chinese embassy has consulate offices in Cebu, Davao an d surprisingly they have a consulate in Ilocos Norte,” he said.

Under Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Act, it is unlawful for any person not authorized by the parties to any private communication or spoken word to record conversations.

The resolution noted that on May 6, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian spoke at a press conference and said China has repeatedly negotiated with the Philippines’ AFP WesCom to discuss a “new model” for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and that the Philippine military has confirmed that it had been approved by the entire command chain, including the Philippines’ defense ministry and national security adviser.

“On May 7, China has likewise threatened to release the transcript and audio recording of an alleged phone conversation that happened on Jan. 3 between Chinese officials and Carlos wherein the latter allegedly agreed to a ‘new model’ in handling resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre,” the resolution added.

“On the same day, the DFA issued a statement emphasizing that only the Philippine President can approve or authorize agreements entered into by the Philippine government on matters pertaining to the WPS,” the resolution added. “In this respect, the DFA can confirm that no Cabinet-level official of the Marcos administration has agreed to any Chinese proposal pertaining to the Ayungin Shoal.”

The resolution added that AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr., one of the high-ranking officers mentioned in the wiretapped conversation, vehemently denied agreeing to such a model.

The resolution noted China’s claim of an audio recording allegedly between Carlos and a Chinese diplomat does not merit significant concern as it appears to be a malign influence effort from the Chinese Communist Party.

“Transcripts can easily be fabricated and audio recordings can be manufactured by using deepfakes. These reports only aim to serve as a distraction from the China Coast Guard’s ongoing aggressive behavior in the WPS,” the resolution said.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Dana Sandoval said they have not received any request for information on Chinese individuals who may be linked to the alleged wiretapping operations of the Chinese embassy.

“So far, it is not in our radar. (There is no) information about that or request for data of those involved in this case. But we are closely monitoring this and the BI database is ready to share information if they need details about specific individuals related to this case,” she said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla, Evelyn Macairan

MANILA, Philippines —  The Commission on Elections has unanimously decided not to allow candidate substitution based on withdrawal after the weeklong filing of certificate of candidacy (COC), Comelec officials said yesterday.

“Candidates, lay your cards on the table. Be up front about your candidacy and there will be no more changes,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said. “If you’re really decided, then lay it out at once. File your candidacy.”

At the Bagong Pilipinas public briefing yesterday, Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco said the commission has set from Oct. 1 to 8 the filing of COC for those running in the 2025 midterm elections.

At the same time, groups participating in the party-list elections may also file a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance.

Laudiangco said the Comelec would allow filing of withdrawal and substitution only from Oct. 1 to 8. “If a candidate with a political party will withdraw from Oct. 9 onwards, it will no longer be allowed to substitute other candidate,” he noted in Filipino.

Garcia said the commission will only allow substitution of candidate on grounds of death or disqualification.

He said the substitute candidate must have the same surname as the one replaced and must belong to the same political party.

The official list of those running will be released early, according to the Comelec, to give voters enough time to screen them and file disqualification complaints if necessary.

Soon after the end of COC filing, Laudiangco said the Comelec will post the certified list of candidates in all the poll body’s offices.

“For what purpose? To show the public that these people have filed COC and so the evaluation and research into their persons can start if they deserve our vote or not,” he stressed.

Since it’s an automated election, Laudiangco said the list of candidates will also be posted on Comelec’s website for the public to see and thoroughly look into the identities of the aspirants.

“In order to see who are the candidates and those who want to file cancellation of COC, disqualification, nuisance can file at the correct Comelec office,” he added.

Laudiangco said the commission will also allow electronic filing of petitions for disqualification or cancellation of COC so that complaints can be resolved quicker.

He said the commission wants all pending disqualification cases to have been resolved and nuisance candidates removed before the printing of ballots.

Despite the absence of an enabling law, the Comelec is pushing through with the planned internet voting in the May 2025 elections for Filipino voters abroad.

Garcia reported yesterday that the commissioners decided against the cancellation of the planned internet voting.

“We weighed the implications, all the possibilities, and we saw the need to proceed with the internet voting although it’s not in the law because no one is questioning it anyway before the Supreme Court,” Garcia told reporters.

“We felt the consequences would be heavier if we canceled internet voting, which is presently being expected by our countrymen abroad,” the chairman added.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III previously expressed his reservations over the use of internet voting in the 2025 midterm elections.

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