AFP’s forged pact with Chinese telco worries Hontiveros

Sen. Risa Hontiveros. INQUIRER.net photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — “Is there now a ‘sign first, worry about security later’ policy under this administration?”

Senator Risa Hontiveros asked this Tuesday after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted that he was unaware of the forged agreement between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and a China-backed telecommunications company.

“Ito na ang pangalawang beses na hindi nakonsulta ang defense secretary tungkol sa mga diumanong Chinese deals na pinapasok ng ating pamahalaan na may seryosong implikasyon sa ating pambansang seguridad,” the opposition senator said in a statement.

Hontiveros added that Lorenzena was “left in the dark” and “clueless” on the agreement.

This comes after Palace Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Lorenzana texted him saying that aside he was unaware of the deal, he will investigate and “asked the concerned people involved.”

READ: Lorenzana unaware of AFP’s deal with China-linked telco – Palace

The AFP entered into an agreement with Dito Telecommunity, formerly Mislatel, to let the company build communication facilities inside military camps and installations.

READ: PH military to allow Chinese-backed 3rd telco to build in camps

Because of this, Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 137 which calls on the Senate to probe the national security implications of the deal.

“There is an urgent need to determine whether or not the presence of Chinese facilities in military bases and installations undermines national security and whether or not the lease agreements entered into for this purpose comply with applicable law,” the senator said.  /jpv