Spy gadgets meant for WEF, APEC, not opposition ­­— Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday belied insinuations raised by an opposition lawmaker that spy gadgets bought in November last year, reportedly sourced from the voided Disbursement Acceleration Program, could have been used to spy on critics of President Aquino.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that contrary to the claim of Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco – secretary-general of the United Nationalist Alliance – the government procured surveillance equipment

for security arrangements for the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2015.

“Definitely, it was not used for the opposition. 2016 is still far away,” Lacierda said.

The WEF was held in Manila last May while Manila will host the 2015 APEC summit and other meetings of senior officials starting from November this year.

“Let me assure Cong. Tiangco that we are focused on governance,” Lacierda said.