Law enforcement agencies seek funds for wiretapping equipment

MANILA, Philippines – Law enforcement agencies are asking Congress to approve their requests for funding to purchase wiretapping equipment to help in the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) told the joint hearing of the Senate committees on public order and dangerous drugs and on national defense that they have no capability at all to eavesdrop on criminal syndicates.

The two panels held their final hearing on proposals to amend Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Law to include in its coverage drug syndicates.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairperson of the public order committee, expressed disbelief that the PNP, the NBI or the PDEA do not have wiretapping equipment.

“We’re in a quandary, we’re here to pass a bill but if you keep on denying that you don’t have any capability or wiretapping equipment why should we pass this? What are we here for?” Lacson said.

“Don’t be coy, don’t be afraid. You can admit, mere possession by law enforcement agencies is not a crime,” he said.

He pointed out that PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa wants President Duterte to certify the measure to amend the law as urgent.

The senator also recalled that when he was chief of the PNP, the agency was able to use wiretapping equipment that led to the dismantling of kidnap-for-ransom syndicates and the prosecution of their leaders in court.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon said assuming that what the law enforcement agencies are claiming is true, the proposed amendments would provide them legal basis to acquire wiretapping equipment.

“Why will we invest in something which you cannot use (under the present law)?” Fadullon said.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan, chairman of the national defense panel, noted that some criminal syndicates have better communication equipment than those in government.

NBI Anti-Illegal Drugs Division chief Joel Tovera said the agency had some demonstrations from private suppliers in the past but it did not make purchases because of the steep cost and they could run into legal troubles.