Senate of the Philippines

‘Nagpapasakop ba tayo?’ Hontiveros seeks probe into AFP-Dito cell sites deal

JC Gotinga
‘Nagpapasakop ba tayo?’ Hontiveros seeks probe into AFP-Dito cell sites deal
'It's as if the Chinese state itself is present within our military camps. Our national security is at risk here,' says Senator Risa Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hontiveros is urging the Senate to immediately investigate the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) agreement with Dito Telecommunity that allows the China-backed telco to build cell sites inside military bases.

“Nagpapasakop ba tayo? Ang isang China-owned telco sa kampo ng sarili nating militar ay lubos na kaduda-duda, lalo na at ang Tsina ay hindi humihinto sa agresibong pag-angkin sa West Philippine Sea, pagsira sa ating likas-yaman, at pag-abuso sa mga mangingisdang Pilipino,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Monday, September 14.

(Are we letting ourselves be conquered? A China-owned telco in the camp of our own military is very suspicious, especially since China does not stop aggressively claiming the West Philippine Sea, destroying our natural resources, and abusing Filipino fishermen.)

Dito Telecommunity is a joint venture between the Udenna Corporation and Chelsea Logistics, both owned by Filipino businessman Dennis Uy, and Beijing-owned and controlled China Telecom.

Hontiveros filed a resolution urging the Senate to investigate the cell sites deal about a year ago, just days after the AFP and Dito signed the agreement on September 11, 2019.

Last September 8, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told the House of Representatives that he recently signed his approval of the AFP-Dito deal after deferring it due to some senators’ concerns about its national security implications. Lorenzana said he received no further complaint from the Senate since the matter was last taken up in late 2019.

On Monday, Hontiveros urged her fellow senators to take action on her year-old request for a legislative investigation. The opposition senator added she would ask the Senate committee on national defense and security, led by Senator Panfilo Lacson, to “immediately hear” the matter out.

“Kailangan mabusisi ang kasunduang ito kasi mahirap paniwalaan na walang pansariling interes ang Tsina sa pagtayo nito ng cell sites sa sarili mismo nating military camps. Wala bang ibang cell sites? Bakit kailangan sa military bases?” Hontiveros said.

(This agreement needs to be scrutinized because it’s hard to believe that China has no selfish interests in building cell sites in our own military camps. Are there no other cell sites? Why does it have to be in military bases?)

“It’s as if the Chinese state itself is present within our military camps. Our national security is at risk here,” she added.

China’s National Intelligence Law obliges Chinese government-owned corporations such as China Telecom to support the state’s intelligence-gathering efforts. Meanwhile, China’s Counter-Espionage Law prohibits these Chinese corporations from refusing to assist their government’s intelligence-gathering, the senator noted.

“This is already a warning signal, and yet the AFP seems to have forgotten the warning its mother department itself raised last year,” Hontiveros said.

In August 2019, the Department of National Defense flagged the presence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs near military bases. Most POGO employees are mainland Chinese, and Lorenzana said they may be easily tapped by their government for espionage.

Dito Telecommunity sought a deal similar to what telcos Globe and Smart have with the AFP, which was meant to secure cell sites particularly in critical areas. In exchange, the AFP is to receive infrastructure, training, and other services equivalent to the lease value of the military properties the telcos occupy.

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Several lawmakers have raised concern over the deal’s national security implications.

On September 10, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said military bases should be off-limits to Dito whether or not it proves to be an “electronic Trojan horse.”

Senator Francis Pangilinan on September 11 said Lorenzana should “rescind” the agreement, saying it would compromise Filipinos’ security, especially their data security.

The AFP’s own risk analysis, conducted shortly after it signed the deal with Dito, found that telco sites inside bases leave the military vulnerable to electronic and radio frequency eavesdropping, interception, and signal jamming.

Although these risks were deemed mostly “highly likely” to occur, the military study concluded that the net risks were low because of control measures the AFP already had or was planning to acquire.

Experts consulted by Rappler said the military’s risk analysis was “insufficient,” and the control measures it mentioned in the study were “entry-level,” leaving the military an “open gate” to cyber attacks.

The Senate in late 2019 asked to review the details of the agreement and the military’s risk analysis. It has yet to act as a body on the matter.

“We, in the Senate, should exercise our oversight powers at once to ensure that our national security is not undermined,” Hontiveros said on Monday. – Rappler.com

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JC Gotinga

JC Gotinga often reports about the West Philippine Sea, the communist insurgency, and terrorism as he covers national defense and security for Rappler. He enjoys telling stories about his hometown, Pasig City. JC has worked with Al Jazeera, CNN Philippines, News5, and CBN Asia.