Recto calls for probe into Safe Philippines Project

In Senate Resolution No. 990, Recto was asking the appropriate Senate Committee to probe the said project “with the end in view of mitigating the potential risks to national security or public interest arising from foreign-assisted projects contracted by the Philippine Government.” (PNA file Photo)

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday, January 16, filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the “Safe Philippines,” a China-funded surveillance system project of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In Senate Resolution No. 990, Recto was asking the appropriate Senate Committee to probe the said project “with the end in view of mitigating the potential risks to national security or public interest arising from foreign-assisted projects contracted by the Philippine Government.”

The “Safe Philippines Project” aims to install 12,000 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Metro Manila and Davao City for “more efficient management of public order, security, and safety” in the country.

The equipment which will be used for it will be supplied by Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd., while China International Telecommunication and Construction Corporation (CITCC) will shoulder the P20-billion project.

Recto, however, expressed his concern over Chinese companies and individuals which he said have been “allegedly involved in espionage and hacking activities.”

Huawei, the senator said, has been “increasingly embroiled in issues concerning national security and data protection.”

Aside from this, Recto also noted the arrest of its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Meng Wanzhou, for “allegedly helping the company circumvent the economic sanctions imposed by the United States (US) against Iran.”

“There is a mounting concern that China may be using Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd as a proxy in Chinese intelligence operations or as a conduit to access sensitive networks,” Recto’s resolution read.

“The National Security Policy for 2017-2022 highlighted the need to safeguard the Philippine classified action plans and programs, government intentions, and state secrets from espionage and other hostile actions, and the need to shield the country from computer-generated attacks that could cause massive crises in our economy, banking and financial institutions, communications, and other critical infrastructure,” it added.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año previously clarified that the project is not primarily for surveillance as it will also serve as an integrated system to improve police response time by 25 percent and reduce crime rate by 15 percent.

Regarding the security concerns, the DILG chief assured Filipino people that the government will install “necessary firewalls” to protect the data stored in the CCTV system from hackers and other threats.

“The public also doesn’t have to worry about data breaches in the project as there will be no storage of classified data or information inimical to national security in the CCTV system,” he pointed out.