Some Alyansa candidates have expressed their intention to revisit the Anti-Espionage Law following the arrest of a Chinese national with an alleged spying device near the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Former Senator Panfilo ”Ping” Lacson said the law should be attuned to the present.
”It’s about time i-amend natin o i-repeal natin ang napakalumang legislation to be attuned sa time. Kasi noong araw wala pa naman itong social media, wala pa itong mga modern information technology,” Lacson said.
(It’s about time to amend or repeal this archaic legislation to be attuned to the times. Years ago, there was no social media, there was no modern information technology.)
Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos backed Lacson’s statement on reviewing the said law.
”Siguro tama si Senator Ping, let’s after the elections let’s review it. Tama rin si I’ve read si Secretary Gibo. Ang sinasabi niya, espionage is activated only during wartime. Dapat maski peaceful time ayusin ito. It should be reviewed,” Abalos said.
(Senator Ping is right. Let’s review it after the elections. I’ve also read Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. He said there is only espionage during wartime. Even when there’s peace, this should be enforced. It should be reviewed.)
Abalos also said it would be up to the Comelec and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to secure the midterm polls.
Early this year, Senate Deputy Minority Leader
Risa Hontiveros
called for the immediate passage of the bill strengthening the 83-year-old Espionage Law amid the arrest of one Chinese national and two Filipinos for allegedly conducting spying activities.
A
Chinese
national with supposed “spying” equipment spotted near the Comelec office in Manila was arrested by authorities.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia, meanwhile, said there was no need to worry since there was no election data in the Comelec headquarters.
–NB, GMA Integrated News
This article
Some Alyansa bets eye review of Philippines espionage law
was originally published in
GMA News Online
.