Group backs Hontiveros' call vs. bill allowing 100% foreign ownership of public utilities

A think-tank group on Saturday backed Senator Risa Honitiveros’ call against a bill that would amend the Public Service Act, which includes provisions allowing foreigners to gain 100% ownership of public utilities.

Pinoy Aksyon warned that the passing of Senate Bill 2094 would allow China to have surveillance capability and control of sensitive infrastructure in the country.

This was the same concern earlier raised by Hontiveros in the Senate, saying that it would “pave the way for China to own and have full control of crucial infrastructure in the country.”

According to the group's convenor Bencyrus Ellorin, China has put an emphasis on artificial intelligence to empower its economy, gain political influence and project global power, and gain military advantage.

“Today, you see China backing its companies in investing in different parts of the world and it is using its money to offer multi-billion loans especially to poor countries like the Philippines,” Ellorin said in a statement.

“This becomes a problem as there are hidden strings that come with these loans,” he claimed.

Ellorin raised particular concern on China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law, which states, under Article 7, that “any organization or citizen shall support, assist and cooperate with the state intelligence work in accordance with the law,” adding that the state “protects” any individual and organization that aids it.

The group also cited China’s 2014 Counter-Espionage Law which it claimed states that “when the state security organ investigates and understands the situation of espionage and collects relevant evidence, the relevant organizations and individuals shall provide it truthfully and may not refuse.”

Hontiveros has repeatedly called for Senate probe on Dito's deal with the Armed Forces of the Philippines allowing the installation of the telco's equipment inside military camps.

The senators raised concerns over China's intelligence and espionage laws which she said require its nationals and companies working abroad to collaborate on intelligence on their home countries.

Armed Forces spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo earlier said the presence of private telecommunication structures inside military camps would not harm the country's national security, adding that it has more gains than risks. -MDM, GMA News