PRESS STATEMENT OF SENATOR CHIZ ESCUDERO

ON SPYING INCIDENT ON NATIONAL ARTIST BIENVENIDO LUMBERA

I view with incredulity and indignation the explanation of the Philippine Navy regarding the reported surveillance by military intelligence agents of the residence of National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera.

To say that the surveillance of Mr. Lumbera's residence was an exercise for Philippine Marine Corporal Hannibal Mondido Guerrero's surveillance training class is truly lamentable.

The spokesman said the soldiers' activities were merely part of surveillance training under the military's Naval Intelligence Security Force. During the activity, trainees are supposedly given random addresses of unidentified civilians where they would conduct mock surveillance operations.

If the explanation of the Philippine Navy spokesman is to be believed, then I wonder why our military intelligence agents have to train at the expense of ordinary innocent citizens. This is a clear violation of a citizen's human rights, particularly the right to privacy and security.

I cannot and will not accept this explanation at face value, and neither should the citizenry. This is a lame explanation that should not be swept under the rug.