The defense department’s decision to allow a China-backed telecommunication firm to build cell sites in military camps will not lead to a security breach, Malacañang assured the nation Monday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque tried to dispel the security concerns raised by some lawmakers about allowing the third telco player, Dito Telecommunity, to operate inside the military premises.

The Lower House recently approved a measure renewing the franchise of Dito Telecommunity, a consortium of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy's Udenna Corp. and Chelsea Logistics with state-owned China Telecom, for another 25 years.

"Ang ating intension po talaga ay pabutihin ang telecommunications connectivity. At in-assure naman po tayo ng ating DND na wala naman pong magiging security breach sa pagtatayo ng mga towers na iyan (Our intention is to improve our telecommunications connectivity. We were assured by the DND that there is no security breach over the establishment of the towers)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Monday.

"Iyan po ay importante para makapag-operate na po iyong ating pangatlong telecoms provider (That is important so the third telecoms provider can operate)," he added.

He noted that it is not only the third telco that can use the cell towers inside the military camps.  "The two other telecoms providers can also lease these towers para sa sarili nilang mga cell sites (for their cell sites)," he said.

Last week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that he signed a deal allowing the new telco firm to install cell towers in select military camps. Lorenzana said Dito will only be allowed inside military camps where rivals Globe and Smart already have cell towers.

The plan earlier triggered concerns from some lawmakers and groups about the possible Chinese espionage compromising national security.