Consumer watchdog Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) has warned that the government's decision to allow a state-owned Chinese company to install telecommunications equipment in military camps poses a threat to Philippine sovereignty.
BK3 is referring to the permit given by the Department of Defense to China-backed DITO Telecommunity to put up cell towers within military camps. DITO is a consortium of Udenna Corp. and China Telecommunications Corp. that secured a franchise to become the third largest telecom company in the Philippines.
Patrick Climaco, secretary-general of BK3, said allowing a Chinese firm to operate within military camps is a source of concern especially at a time the Philippines and China are involved in a territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea.
"Given China’s continuous activity in the West Philippine Sea, we have all the reason in the world to be suspicious of China’s interest in the Philippines. It would be especially concerning for Filipino consumers if Chinese state-owned corporation controlled our telecommunications," Climaco said.
BK3 said that while accessing online telecommunications services have become indispensable for consumers and digital infrastructure is critical to meet the exponential rise in demand for cloud services and support economic recovery, this should not come at the expense of national security.
The consumer watchdog said such security concern stems from the fact that China continues to bolster its expansionist aggression in the West Philippine Sea and refuses to recognize the International Arbitral Court decision that effectively nullifies its bogus “nine-dash” claim.
"China’s incursions into Philippine territorial waters and militarization of artificial islands violates our sovereignty and is causing serious damage to the marine resources, a critical food resource of the region," Climaco.
"China’s military continues to harass our fisherfolk whose sole source of livelihood is the marine resources of the West Philippine Sea. Several life-threatening incidents have been documented and remain unpunished," he said.
Climaco said that as DITO is funded by a state-owned company in China, it has no choice but to act at the behest of its government. "The People’s Republic of China can enforce a law to any Chinese citizen or corporation to cooperate with the State Intelligence Services of China to give any information demanded by the Chinese intelligence agencies," he said.
"What will happen to our country if the Chinese Communist Party invokes the intelligence law and requires this company to share the data it has gathered? What will be the economic damage of a sudden disruption in our telecommunications services?" BK3 asked.
"These issues confirm a clear and present danger to our country’s national security and our telecommunications infrastructure," the watchdog said.
Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said in a recent webinar of the Philippine Bar Association that the government is effectively letting China set-up its telecom equipment while they are claiming the Philippines' maritime zone.
Carpio asked the government to be more cautious in the country's struggle to preserve the Philippine territory and its maritime zone.
"We therefore call on our government and legislators to stop this policy blunder. We call on all Filipinos to become aware and express our indignation against this policy blunder that can result in disastrous consequences to our whole country," said Climaco.