FIRST SAY:
“Our minds are all we have. They are all we have ever had. And they are all we can offer others. This might not be obvious, especially when there are aspects of your life that seem in need of improvement—when your goals are unrealized, or you are struggling to find a career, or you have relationships that need repairing. But it’s the truth. Every experience you have ever had has been shaped by your mind. Every relationship is as good or as bad as it is because of the minds involved. If you are perpetually angry, depressed, confused, and unloving, or your attention is elsewhere, it won’t matter how successful you become or who is in your life—you won’t enjoy any of it.”
― Sam Harris, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
***********
The issue of whether the Philippine government in fact forged a “new model” agreement with China about the resupply missions in Ayungin shoal will soon be put to rest with Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, former chief of the AFP Western Command (Wescom) clearing the air on what really happened.
The facts as narrated by Carlos:
He met Colonel Lee during his job as Wescom commander, which sometimes entailed meeting with foreign representatives in diplomatic activities. Lee is the Chinese military attaché, and they had an informal conversation.
"I've had a very open discussion with him in plain view, several times, so we exchanged numbers so when I received that call, I knew it was him so I received the call from him, although I did not give my consent to be recorded," Carlos said.
"New model, definitely, we did not talk about that. Internal understanding, also we did not talk about that, and there is still no long-term agreement. Hindi naman ako (I am not) authorized to negotiate a long-term agreement, so definitely non-existent as far as I'm concerned, (and) no, I did not engage in any discussion involving secret details. No secret deals whatsoever. There is no agreement," he added.
Carlos maintained that he did not negotiate with China regarding a "new model" agreement that aims to reduce tensions at Ayungin Shoal at the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In an exclusive interview with state-run People's Television (PTV), Carlos also emphasized that he did not give permission or consent to the Chinese military attaché, whom he identified as Col. Lee, to record their conversation.
"I've had a very open discussion with him in plain view, several times, so we exchanged numbers so when I received that call, I knew it was him so I received the call from him, although I did not give my consent to be recorded," he added.
"We did not talk about any new model, definitely, we did not talk about that. Internal understanding was also not in the conversation. There was also no long-term agreement discussed."
The Navy officer also maintained that he did not compromise the country's territorial integrity.
"I have not given up our sovereign rights and entitlement. I am a soldier for the Filipinos. I remain a loyal servant of the Republic," he said.
Earlier this month, the Chinese Embassy in Manila claimed that Carlos, with the approval of high-ranking government officials, has agreed to enter into "a new model" agreement as part of easing tensions, which have been heightened by Chinese harassment of Philippine resupply ships and their escorts in Ayungin Shoal. There was even a transcript of the alleged conversation.
On this issue, we have to take Admiral Carlos’ word on it. After all, he is the Filipino in the said conversation, and he has vowed that he did not compromise the country’s territorial integrity and that he remains a loyal soldier of the nation. So be it.
*********
With the increasing number of arrests that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is making against unwanted and illegal foreigners, many of them fugitives in their home countries, it is safe to say that the immigration bureau is being run well by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, his staff, and the Board of Commissioners.
Just last week, the BI reported the arrest of another member of the notorious "Luffy" gang who is wanted by Japanese authorities for theft and robbery cases.
Commissioner Tansingco said 26-year-old Nagaura Hiroki was arrested on Sunday by members of the BI fugitive search unit (FSU) along Estrella Avenue in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City.
He will soon be deported to Tokyo as he was already ordered expelled by the BI in 2022 when an order for his summary deportation was issued by the bureau’s board of commissioners.
“He was already placed in our immigration blacklist of undesirable aliens, thus he is perpetually barred from reentering the Philippines,” the BI chief added.
Tansingco said the foreigner’s arrest was sought by Japanese authorities in Manila which informed the BI about the fugitive’s presence in the Philippines.
Hiroki is detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.
BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy reported that Hiroki has been hiding in the Philippines since Nov. 20, 2019 when he last arrived in the country as a tourist. However, it was only in 2022 that the BI was informed of his case in Japan. The BI immediately conducted a manhunt against Hiroki, as well as other cohorts in the ‘Luffy’ scheme.
The Japanese reportedly has a standing warrant of arrest issued by the Tokyo Summary Court for theft in violation of the Japanese penal code. Tokyo police alleged that he conspired with another suspect in robbing a home by impersonating a police officer which enabled them to enter the house under the pretext of investigating a stolen automated teller machine (ATM) card.
“Further, he is being investigated by the Japanese authorities for his involvement in alleged telecommunications fraud activities,” the BI official said. In March, the BI deported two members of the notorious Japanese gang --Sugano Kazushi and Shimoeda Saito.
Greater cooperation between authorities of Japan and the Philippines usually results in these positive developments.