Cory under surveillance, says allies could be next

(Updated 11:08 a.m.) Telephone servicemen have discovered a surveillance device wired to the residential landline of former President Corazon Aquino, prompting her to issue a warning that other opposition figures may have been "targets" as well. Police officials described the wiretapping device as "crude" and "illegally connected" to Aquino's Quezon City home, television reports said. Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula, chief of the QC police, was quoted as saying that the device was connected without the consent of service provider Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT). Radio station dzBB said PLDT linemen discovered the device, attached to a "tape recorder," inside the telephone box on Wednesday. The PLDT on Thursday said that the device was discovered at around 3 pm by a maintenance crew conducting routine inspection of the company’s facilities. In a statement, PLDT said the crew had opened the company’s "cross-connect cabinet" located along Times Street in Quezon City after they discovered an instrument which appeared to be a tape recorder attached to a black box. Upon further investigation, the PLDT crew found out that the black box to which the said tape recorder was attached was connected to the telephone line installed at the residence of ex-President Corazon Aquino. The PLDT crew removed the black box and at the same time informed the customer, Mrs. Aquino of their action. At present, PLDT is conducting further investigation regarding this incident. PLDT representatives presented the device to Aquino on Thursday morning, prompting the former president to report the matter to the police. For her part, Aquino said she was not surprised that her phone line was tapped. She said shady characters have been monitoring her since Martial Law during the 1970s. Aquino, the rallying figure in two People Power revolts, said wiretapping could happen to opposition figures now that she has already fallen victim. She has actively called for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's resignation, and has been closely associated with the resigned "Hyatt 10" Cabinet secretaries. Last Wednesday, Aquino warned that "no harm must come" to Jonas Burgos, son of the late Marcos critic Joe Burgos. Her son, Tarlac Rep. Benigno Simeon Aquino III, is seeking a senatorial seat under the Genuine Opposition. - GMANews.TV