WHAT WENT BEFORE: China CCTV project in PH

In December last year, Sen. Leila de Lima filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry into the Philippines’ P20-billion deal with China to install 12,000 security cameras in Metro Manila and Davao City.

The deal was struck between the Department of the Interior and Local Government and China International Telecommunication Construction Corp., an affiliate of China Telecommunications Corp., a partner of Mislatel Consortium, which the Duterte administration has chosen to be the third carrier for the local telecommunication industry.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd would supply equipment for the project.

De Lima cited reports that the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States had raised concerns about the security risks posed by  Huawei’s equipment, as the Chinese government could be using it in spying on other countries.

Under the P20-billion loan agreement, security cameras would be installed at crossings, along roads, at public plazas, business districts, science and technology parks, residential areas and stadiums, among other places.

The system includes a national command center to be located at Clark, Pampanga.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto raised concerns about security risks during budget deliberations last year and sought more information from administration officials. —Inquirer Research