Press Release
February 23, 2008

VILLAR: CAMERAS IN METRO MEANT TO SPY AND SCARE

"Bakit natatakot ka ba kaya nagi-spy ka?"

This was Senate President Manny Villar's reaction after learning that at least 26 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are being installed all over the metropolis amid the escalating political tension felt in the country.

Villar said he doubts that the CCTV cameras are meant for traffic monitoring and believes that the timing is an indication that these are meant to spy on people's movements.

"Bakit ngayon? Ang mga ganitong pangyayari na naglalagay ng mga camera nagpapakita lamang na natatakot ang ating gobyerno, " Villar said, speaking before reporters in Baguio City.

The Nacionalista Party president said these actuations are reminiscent of the repressive Marcos regime, where movements of people are being closely watched.

"This is one of the ingredients we saw in a dictator's regime. Palagay ko ang tanging dahilan nito ay takutin ka na sige ka, huwag kang magra-rally at makikita namin kayo, mare-record namin ang mukha mo," he added.

Villar said the gains of People Power I will only be wasted if we will allow our liberties to be repressed. He said the use of cameras to spy on people does not augur well in a democratic country like the Philippines.

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