MANILA, Philippines — Mislatel Consortium did not violate any laws when it received the government’s approval to become the third telecommunications (telco) player in the country.
Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy repeatedly said this during Thursday’s hearing on the selection of the new major player (NMP) conducted by the Senate committee on public services.
Uy is chief executive officer of Udenna Corporation, which is part of Mislatel Consortium recently named as the country’s NMP.
“Mislatel went through the process of preparing for the bid for almost a year. Kami po ay dumaan sa butas ng karayom hangga’t mapili po kami ng National Telecommunications Commission bilang new mayor player sa telecom sector,” he told the committee, reading from a prepared statement.
“We want to assure the committee and the public na walang nilabag na kahit anong rules ang Mislatel at gagawin namin ang lahat para protektahan ang interest at siguridad ng Pilipinas,” he said.
Udenna Corporation CEO Dennis Uy (L) and Mislatel Vice President for Corporate Affairs Atty. Adel Tamano . INQUIRER.NET/CATHY MIRANDA
Uy, who faced the committee for the first time, promised that Mislatel will not just be the third telco but the “best” telco that is “fast, affordable, and most importantly, secured.”
“Kung may isang bagay po akong kayang panghawakan ang proyektong ito ay dumaan sa pinakamahigpit na pagsusuri na kahit ako po bilang isang negosyante ni minsan ay hindi pinagdaanan,” he said.
The businessman admitted that his advisers and friends had discouraged him from joining the bidding for the third telco, citing the criticisms and baseless allegations being hurled at him.
“Ngunit hindi kami mawawalan ng loob dahil alam naming na wala kaming nilabag na batas,” said Uy, who is reportedly a known ally of President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Who is Dennis Uy?
“Dumaan kami sa tama at mahabang proseso at higit sa lahat , malinis po ang aming pangalan kahit ano mang industriya o negosyo na aming pinasukan.”
As he concluded his statement, Uy submitted to the committee the consortium’s rollout plan, containing the cybersecurity plan that he said “details how we intend to achieve our commitments and protect our national security.”