EXPLANATION OF VOTE
ON HOUSE BILL NO. 7332 RENEWING THE FRANCHISE OF DITO TELECOMMUNITY CORPORATION Senator Francis N. Pangilinan

Mr. President, my dear colleagues:

We recognize the crucial role of fast, reliable, accessible, and cheap internet and telecommunications services in the daily lives of our citizens, most especially during this pandemic. Online classes and work from home setups amplify the need for more quality and affordable telecommunications providers. We understand that a third telco or a fourth or a fifth or a sixth telco, these are vital to improve our telco industry, but we should not close our eyes to the national security issues as well as the threats to our sovereignty surrounding this particular telco.

In previous committee hearings and the Department of National Defense budget deliberations as early as 2019, we have consistently raised concerns about State-owned China Telecom's forty percent (40%) ownership in Dito. The Chinese Government, through the Chinese National Intelligence Law (CNIL) of 2017 and the Chinese Counter-Espionage Law (CEL) of 2014, has the power to compel China Telecom to monitor and investigate foreign individuals and institutions and conduct espionage activities on them. This is especially concerning because Dito and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have agreed to put up cell sites in our military bases. Precisely because of these national security concerns and concerns on [the] possible infringement on our sovereignty, I requested to have an executive session with Dito and our national security officials during the December 7, 2020 Committee on Public Services hearing. Unfortunately, Senate lockdown, the increase in Covid cases, [have] prevented us from undertaking this executive session.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Coast Guard spotted over two hundred (200) Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea -- within our country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Chinese are already -- if the Philippines was a home -- the Chinese are already in front of our doorsteps. We cannot allow them to enter.

For these reasons, Mr. President, I regret to vote NO to House Bill No. 7332.

Maraming salamat.