Security audit on China-backed Dito sought before March launch

Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
Screen grab / Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The National Security Council (NSC) should immediately conduct a security audit of China-backed Dito Telecommunity ahead of its commercial rollout on March 8, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday.

“Hindi pa nareresolba ang mga pangamba natin sa Dito telco [The concerns over Dito telco have yet to be resolved],”  Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Not unless China finally respects and honors that our territories in the West Philippine Sea are ours and ours alone, every other business negotiation it has in our country will remain suspicious,” she added.

The senator said that while China “continues with its bullying” in the West Philippine Sea, a “red carpet has been rolled out” for a company, which she fears can “directly report” to the Chinese government.

“This is worrying. NSC should execute a security audit for Dito. It’s the least it can do,” the senator went on.

Dito is a joint venture between state-run China Telecom and Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy. Dito has earlier dismissed fears of possible Chinese espionage, stressing that it is a company run by Filipinos.

Hontiveros urged the NSC to tap an independent security auditor, similar to how the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) conducted its technical audit of Dito.

On Monday, the NTC announced that the Dito passed its first technical audit. Dito, for its part, said it would begin its commercial operations on March 8 starting with Visayas and Mindanao.

“Kung nagkaroon ng technical audit, dapat may security audit din [If there was a technical audit, there should be a security audit as well]. Knowing that Dito is safe from China’s incursions is as vital as knowing Dito’s technical capabilities,” Hontiveros said, reiterating that ChinaTel, which has a 40% stake in Dito, is 100% owned by the Chinese state,” she added.

Hontiveros pointed out that the NSC admitted during a previous Senate hearing that it did not have a cyber defense doctrine that can fight against cyberattacks.

Hontiveros has earlier questioned why Dito should be allowed franchise when the country’s cyber defenses are down.

“Nakakabahala na wala palang konkretong istratehiya ang NSC sa usapin ng cybersecurity. China can easily take advantage of this,” she said.

(It’s alarming that the NSC has yet to formulate a concrete strategy for cybersecurity.  China can easily take advantage of this.)

“Sinasakop na nila ang ating karagatan ng harap-harapan. Nothing is stopping it from doing the same to our data,” she added.

(They’re already blatantly claiming our seas. Nothing is stopping it from doing the same to our data.)

JPV