Hontiveros HONTIVEROS

China Telecom using Dito as Trojan Horse to spy on PH — senator

August 16, 2021 People's Tonight 675 views

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has accused China Telecom of using Dito Telecommunity as a ‘Trojan Horse’ to spy on the Philippines.

“Hindi ako magtataka kung ang ChinaTel ay sadyang bumili ng stakes sa Dito Telco para mas malalim ang magagawang pag-eespiya sa ating bansa, lalo na at may pansariling interes ang Tsina sa ating mga teritoryo,” said Hontiveros.

Hontiveros vowed to continue asking the National Security Council (NSC) to conduct a security audit on Dito, the third telco player in the country, to ensure that the country is secure from foreign threats.

“Maaaring ‘Trojan Horse’ nga ang Dito ng ChinaTel kaya tuloy-tuloy ang ating pangangalampag sa Dito at pati na rin sa NSC para masiguradong hindi nagiging bulnerable ang ating pambansang seguridad. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagagawa ang mungkahi nating matagal na na magsagawa ng security audit sa Dito,” stressed the lady senator

In 2019, Hontiveros also filed a resolution urging the Senate to probe the national security implications of the agreement allowing Dito to set up cell sites inside the military base of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Hindi kaila na ang Tsina ay may malaking interes na angkinin ang West Philippine Sea at kung isasaalang-alang ang mga aksiyon ng kanilang mga barko lalo na nitong taon, lantaran nilang gagawin ang lahat — bumili man ng telcom o ng power system — para mapasakanila kung ano ang atin,” added Hontiveros.

Earlier, an Australian lawmaker had warned that China is using Communist Party-controlled and owned instrumentalities like ChinaTel and Dito as ‘Trojan Horses’ in order to infiltrate infrastructure of small countries in the Indo-China region.

In a speech before the Australian Senate recently, Queensland Senator James McGrath said it is about time to address the threat posed by China, as he particularly expressed alarm over the 40 percent share of ChinaTel in Dito.

“Many are concerned that Dito Telecommunity is a Trojan horse for spying, including on the armed forces of the Philippines and its allies the United States and Australia,” he said.

“When we consider how many Australian companies house parts of their businesses in the Philippines, such as call centres, this should ring alarm bells with cybersecurity experts,” added McGrath.

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