2 solons oppose DND proposal to extend wiretapping to 90 days

Two lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Sunday opposed the Department of National Defense's (DND's) proposal to amend the Human Security Act to allow wiretapping operations to last for as long as 90 days. 

In a statement, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago said that the suggestion made by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was another "blatant attack against the fundamental rights of the Filipinos."

"This government criminalizes dissent. When the workers ask for better wages and to end contractualization, they will be answered by violence and will be tagged as a terrorist or communist. When a student asks to uphold their right to organize and participate in societal issues, they will be tagged as a terrorist or communist," said Elago.

"This is what the government would like us to think, that to fight for your rights is wrong. Any critical or a peace loving Filipino can be a target."

The Kabataan representative suggested that instead of these anti-people policies, the government should address the problems and needs of Filipinos.

"We remain steadfast in our call to address the fundamental problems of our country such as poverty, unemployment, protecting our national sovereignty, corruption and rampant human rights violations. Address the roots of armed conflict via peace talks," said Elago.

Currently, the Human Security Act only allows for 30 days of wiretapping and only with permission obtained from the Court of Appeals.

But Lorenzana said that with the advent of modern communication devices, it had become more "challenging" to wiretap a conversation.

"Ngayon, it's already cellphones, eh. And in fact... people can have several cellphones. That makes it very challenging. That's why we need more time," Lorenzana had argued.

Meanwhile, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman also opposed the DND's proposal.

"Removing the human rights safeguards in the Human Security Act like the liberalization of wire-tapping will open the floodgates to inordinate abuses," Lagman warned.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, said he would temporarily refrain from opining on the amendments to the Human Security Act.

"Let's wait [for deliberations]," he said in a text message to GMA News Online. — DVM, GMA News