The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it will investigate any leads of illegal and unlawful activities by diplomatic officials in the Philippines.
This follows reports that China allegedly wiretapped a purported phone call between its diplomat and a Philippine military official.
The DFA warned that it will undertake necessary action in line with existing laws and regulations.
It pointed out that accredited foreign diplomats in the country are accorded necessary liberties to conduct their duties and are expected, in turn, to conduct “diplomatic activities with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, in pursuit of common interests and mutually beneficial outcomes.”
Both Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año recently called on the DFA to expel the Chinese diplomat behind the recording of a phone call purportedly with the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command when they agreed to a “new model.”
Earlier, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines reportedly allowed several reporters to listen to the recording, though it could not be immediately confirmed if the recording was real or fake.
Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, in a recent Beijing press conference already confirmed that the Chinese embassy released the recording in a bid to supposedly show proof that a “new model” on the management of sea row was entered into by the current administration with China.
Although China’s move was illegal under the country’s Anti-Wiretapping Law, diplomats have immunity to their receiving state’s laws under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“Being a strong advocate of rules-based governance, the Philippine Government is firm and united in respecting and upholding the rule of law in both the domestic and international milieus,” the DFA statement said.
“It is in this context that the Philippines—as a responsible member of the international community of nations—has consistently called for adherence to international law, including the United Nations Charter, the Vienna Conventions governing inter-state relations, and in the maritime domain the 1982 UNCLOS, among others,” it added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline DFA to probe reports of illegal activities by diplomatic officials
