The government will never allow foreign governments to conduct wiretapping on Filipinos especially since such action remains illegal in the country, Malacañang clarified yesterday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, admitted that surveillance information given to the government could be used to boost the fight against crime and illegal drugs “if it is matter of national security.”
“It’s the policy of the government to comply with the law. Wiretapping is illegal in this country…we will not allow it whether it’s foreign or taga-rito,” Panelo said.
“If in the course of cooperation between countries like combat terrorism and illegal drug industry information will suddenly thrown into our lap without us asking it – nandoon na – and the information points to a terrorist or a drug lord, then if it is a matter of national security, I don’t think na masama na gamitin natin iyong information as a lead,” he added.
Panelo said law enforcers could use the “lead” to conduct surveillance on a suspected criminal and gather evidence to “nail him.”
He said the country’s interest would always prevail over the right of the individual person. “Kung it’s a matter of survival, eh bakit naman hindi mo gagamitin,” he said.
Panelo denied claiming the narco list was based on wiretapped information given by foreign governments amid concerns raised by some lawmakers.
He said his previous statement on the possible surveillance done by foreign governments was based on “logic” and “educated guess” in line with cooperation against the criminality.
“Countries whose survival depends on measures that they will undertake to preserve their territory or sovereignty will have to use that. But, again, I will say that as far as I know, walang nagpo-provide sa atin ng impormasyon,” he said.
He said the narco list could come from information from drug offenders who were arrested or surrendered to authorities. (Genalyn Kabiling)
