Dennis Uy, gov’t execs summoned to third telco Senate probe

Sen. Grace Poe. (File photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines – Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy and several government officials have been summoned to the resumption of the Senate investigation on the third telco on Jan. 24, Senator Grace Poe said Tuesday.

Senator Grace Poe, chair of Senate committee on public services, said she was expecting Uy to attend the third public hearing that would tackle the compliance of Mislatel Consortium – which is composed of Uy’s Udenna Corp., Chelsea Logistics and Chinese state-owned China Telecommunications Corp. – after the 90-day review process.

“We hope that this third telco lives up to its promise to improve the telco services in the country because there will be more competition in the industry,” Poe said in a statement.

“Gusto talaga nating magtagumpay ang third telco pero kaakibat nito, dapat mapawi ang mga agam-agam ukol sa seguridad ng ating bansa,” she added.

The committee also invited Presidential adviser for economic affairs and ICT Ramon Jacinto, Department of Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., National Telecommunications Commission Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, Philippine Competition Commission Chairperson Arsenio Balisacan, Armed Forces Chief of staff General Benjamin Madrigal Jr., National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., and other stakeholders.

Cable television operators were also invited following Rio’s remark that one of the ways Mislatel could comply with its commitments is to use the existing facilities of cable television players.

Poe’s committee also invited Pampanga-based businessman Dennis Anthony H. Uy, owner of telco provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. who has been reported to have expressed interest in teaming up with Mislatel to support the third telco’s operations. /cbb