(Eagle News) — For Senator Panfilo Lacson, mere possession of wiretapped information from foreign governments is already a violation of Philippine law.
Lacson issued the statement after Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s said that information derived from the wiretapping activities of countries where wiretapping is legal may be considered “admissible” in Philippine courts.
Under the Philippines’ Anti-Wiretapping Law, it is unlawful for any person not authorized by both parties to any private communication or spoken word to “tap any wire or cable, or by using any other device or arrangement, to secretly overhear, intercept or record such communication or spoken word by using a device commonly known as a dictaphone or dictagraph or detectaphone or walkie-talkie or tape recorder, or however otherwise described.”
“What if someone brings into the country marijuana which he/she got or bought from a foreign country where possession and use of the same is legal? Will the person who brought in the marijuana not be violating the Dangerous Drugs Act?” Lacson said.
“If we allow such wiretaps from foreign governments, is it now a government policy to condone invasion of privacy of its own nationals by other countries?” Lacson added.
Guevarra issued the remark after Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the information that was used to come up with the narco-list of candidates was derived from countries that engage in wiretapping activities.
On Thursday, March 7, Panelo said there was actually no information there were countries engaging in such activities in the country.
He also denied the information for the narco-list was derived from such activities.
“I used the wrong term, ‘provided.’ What i really mean is if information is thrown to our lap without us asking it..we can use those information as a lead,” Panelo said.