Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, May 14 reiterated her call for the National Security Council (NSC) to pursue a security audit against Dito Telecommunity, especially amid China’s increasing presence in the West Philippine Sea.
Hontiveros said there is a great necessity for the NSC, as well as other relevant government agencies, to be alert over China’s blatant moves to conquer the Philippine’s territorial waters as well as the country’s network system.
“Hindi ako magsasawang ulit-ulitin: Kailangang magsagawa ang National Security Council ng security audit sa Dito (I won’t stop repeating this: the NSC should conduct a security audit on Dito),” Hontiveros said.
“Ngayong tumitindi ang pag-aarangkada ng mga barko ng China sa West Philippine Sea, dapat mas paigtingin natin ang ating seguridad — sa karagatan man o sa ating internet, (the presence of China’s vessels in our West Philippine Sea is intensifying, so we should strengthen our security),” she added.
“Hindi rin tayo nagsawa sa pagkalampag na imbestigahan ang planong magtayo ng mga cell sites ng DITO sa loob pa mismo ng mga kampo ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” she stressed.
Hontiveros had earlier filed Senate Resolution 137 calling for a Senate probe into the security implications of Dito Telecommunity’s deal with the AFP. The senator said there is clearly a major national security concern over Dito’s plan to construct cell towers within the country’s military camps.
On top of that, the senator said Dito seems to be blatantly disregarding the country’s existing laws, noting how some municipalities have already complained against the third telecommunications firm for building cell sites without first securing the necessary permit.
“Bukod sa bakuran ng AFP, matagal na ring isyu ang iligal na pagtatayo ng cell sites ng Dito sa mga barangay. Nagreklamo na nga ang mga taga-Malabon at Bacolod (Besides the AFP, there has also been an issue about Dito’s illegal construction of cell sites in some barangays. Communities in Malabon and Bacolod have already filed a complaint against Dito),” she pointed out.
“Dapat tutukan yan ng DILG at DICT. Baka dahil sa kagustuhang makabenta ay nakakalimutan na ng DITO ang pagsunod sa batas (The Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Information and Communications Technology should focus on this. Maybe in their rush to sell their services, Dito has forgotten to follow the law),” she added.
Hontiveros said it cannot be denied that the 40 percent stake of China-owned ChinaTel on Dito Telecommunity is a major security concern.
“Kaya hindi na rin nakakagulat na na-delist ang ChinaTel sa New York Stock Exchange. Dapat magsilbing babala na yan sa ating mga ahensya sa gobyerno (No wonder ChinaTel was delisted at the New York Stock Exchange. That should serve as a warning for our government agencies),” she emphasized.
“Pursigido ang China sa panghihimasok sa teritoryo at ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, kaya dapat bantayan ang mga industryiang pinapasok nila sa loob ng ating bansa (China is bent on intruding Philippine territory and economy, that’s why we should guard the industries they are trying to enter into within our country),” she said.