Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 5) — The Philippines should be thankful to foreign governments wiretapping criminals in the country, Malacañang said Tuesday.
While wiretapping is considered illegal under Philippine law, there is nothing wrong with receiving wiretapped communications from other countries, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.
“Walang batas na nagsasabing ilegal yun kung binibigyan tayo ng impormasyon (No law states being given information is illegal). In fact we should be thankful we are being provided with the information relative to the criminal activities in this country,” Panelo said.
Panelo, who also serves as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, made these statements as he vouched for the validity of the government’s drug watch list or “narco list,” hinting that those alleged to be involved in drugs may have been wiretapped.
“Tandaan ninyo ang technology ngayon masyadong modern… Nakakapasok sa mga telepono ngayon ang ano e, ang surveillance… Kaya mahirap ring tanggihan pag sinabi ng law enforcement na kasama ka dito,” he added.
[Translation: “Remember that modern technology enables surveillance through telephones. That’s why it’s hard to deny when law enforcement officials say you are included in the list.”]
He stressed that Philippine law enforcement agencies do not have the capability for electronic eavesdropping unlike Israel, U.S., Russia, and China.
President Rodrigo Duterte himself previously admitted to wiretapping politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. He also said a foreign country, which he did not name, provided him wiretapped communications about a plot to remove him from office.
READ: Duterte admits wiretapping alleged narcopoliticians
Republic Act No. 4200 or the Anti Wire-Tapping Law says it is “unlawful for any person to tap any wire or cable, or by using any other device or arrangement, to secretly overhear, intercept, or record such communication or spoken word.”
Law enforcers are allowed to wiretap private communications in relation to cases of treason, espionage, rebellion or sedition and kidnapping, but only with a court order. The House of Representatives in December 2018 approved a bill which seeks to legalize wiretapping in cases involving illegal drug trafficking.
