Senator Grace Poe has expressed dismay over the failure of the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Security Council to ensure the Philippines’ ability to fight the cybersecurity warfare already raging in other countries.
Poe also questioned the preparedness of the local Dito-China Telecom partnership to fulfill its commitment over the first five years to deliver its services and to fund its telco project.
She said Dito should have had a forecast of how much was needed to be spent before the firm applied for the franchise and agreed to the commitments as the third telco player.
“They should not have anticipated the renewal of their franchise unless they are able to produce the commitments without the additional funding,” said Poe.
“I don’t want the [Senate] committee to be a hostage of that.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros has also noted the DICT’s warning that the government will revoke the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity granted to Dito if it fails to operate in 2021.
The initial failures in complying with its committed delivery of service do not augur well for a franchise of 25 years, Hontiveros said, adding: “Besides, there are many issues with China evolving in the region for the coming years”.
A sword of Damocles appeared to hang over the Philippines’ third telco as the fears over China Telecommunications’ security risks had gained ground in the United States, the senators said.
The US Federal Communications Commission has moved to stop China Telecom (Americas) Corporation’s operation in the US for security reasons.
No less than FCC head Ajit Pail said the Chinese government mandates firms like China Telecom to covertly siphon sensitive information and to intercept US communications.
China Telecom and three other telcos have also been issued a show-cause order by the FCC “demanding evidence to prove that they are not at the behest of the Chinese Government.”
Aside from the FCC, the US Departments of Defense, Commerce, Justice and State and Homeland Security have also shared concerns on the Chinese government’s control over China Telecom and three other Chinese telcos.
The same apprehension over China Telecom’s security risks, particularly in the country’s telecommunications’ industry, is being echoed by Poe and Senate Minority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan.
“China Telecom is a Chinese company, what if the Chinese government says — you have access there…you are mandated to turn over information to us because we have the National Intelligence Law and the counter-Espionage Law,” Pangilinan said of ChinaTel.
Pangilinan has repeatedly cited the security risk posed by the Memorandum of Agreement between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Dito-ChinaTel allowing the setting up of communications facilities and cell towers within the military camps.