Hontiveros renews call for security audit on DITO Telecom amid China incursion

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday renewed her call to conduct a security audit on the third major telecommunications company in the country, DITO Telecom.

In a statement, Hontiveros urged the National Security Council anew to conduct the said audit, especially now that China continues with its incursion in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“Hindi ako magsasawang ulit-ulitin: Kailangang magsagawa ang National Security Council ng security audit sa DITO. Ngayong tumitindi ang pag-aarangkada ng mga barko ng China sa West Philippine Sea, dapat mas paigtingin natin ang ating seguridad — sa karagatan man o sa ating internet,” she said.

(I will not get tired repeating this: The National Security Council needs to conduct a security audit on DITO. Especially now that Chinese vessels are still in the West Philippine Sea, we should intensify our security measures whether on our seas or our internet.)

She also reiterated her call to investigate the plan to establish DITO Telco cell sites inside the premises of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Noong 2019 pa lang, naghain na ako ng Senate Resolution 137 para suriin ang kasunduan na yan ng DITO at ng ating AFP.  Sana ay dinggin na rin ang resolusyong ito sa Senado,” she appealed.

(In 2019, I have already filed Senate Resolution 137 to investigate the deal between the DITO and the AFP. I hope the Senate will hear this resolution.)

The lawmaker also mentioned the alleged illegal construction of cell towers in Malabon and Bacolod, calling on the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to look into this issue.

“Baka dahil sa kagustuhang makabenta ay nakakalimutan na ng DITO ang pagsunod sa batas (DITO seems to forget to follow the law just to gain profits),” she scored.

Hontiveros also reiterated that the government should not be complacent as DITO Telecom is backed by Chinese government-owned ChinaTel.

“Pursigido ang China sa panghihimasok sa teritoryo at ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, kaya dapat bantayan ang mga industryiang pinapasok nila sa loob ng ating bansa,” she said.

(China is determined to intrude the territory and the economy of the Philippines. That is why we need to be watchful on the industries that they are pursuing in our country.)

In 2019, Hontiveros filed a Senate resolution seeking a probe on the AFP and DITO Telecom deal.

In February 2021, Hontiveros said the NSC is yet to submit a plan to combat cybersecurity threats in the country despite the March rollout of DITO Telecom, which is 40% owned by a Chinese company.

For their part, DITO said the memorandum of agreement signed by DITO and the AFP “contained the very same provisions signed by the other two telcos.”

“May we further state that, as part of the New Major Player selection process, we submitted our cybersecurity plan during the bidding process to prove that the DITO network and facilities will not compromise national security and shall abide with the National Cybersecurity Plan. This plan has been accepted by no less than the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the National Security Advisor,” DITO Telecommunity Corp. chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said.

In March, DITO has commercially launched their services. -MDM, GMA News