From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 8): Palace: ISAFP not using spy gadgets to spy on opposition
The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) is not using spy gadgets to spy on opponents of the Aquino administration, Malacanang clarified on Tuesday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a Palace media briefing, dispelled such speculation following a report on a daily newspaper which indicated that P135 million worth of surveillance equipment were acquired to spy on critics of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
"According to (ISAFP chief) Brig. Gen. Eduardo Año, there is none," Valte said. "He belied the reports that came out on that particular subject."
Valte further explained that any procurement of equipment is based really on the needs of the agency.
"...It would be also answering a hypothetical (question) in the sense that General Año has already said that there is no truth to that particular report that allegedly they were procuring intelligence equipment to surveil on opponents of the administration," the Malacanang official said.
"So, you know, at this point we don’t see a need to discuss further the fact that it may be used for other purposes, or at least to go into speculations on this point," she added.
Meanwhile, Valte assured that since President Aquino assumed office, he has always made sure that at least the assets that are available to the agency are used properly and that they are utilized for the correct purposes.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=633499
The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) is not using spy gadgets to spy on opponents of the Aquino administration, Malacanang clarified on Tuesday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a Palace media briefing, dispelled such speculation following a report on a daily newspaper which indicated that P135 million worth of surveillance equipment were acquired to spy on critics of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
"According to (ISAFP chief) Brig. Gen. Eduardo Año, there is none," Valte said. "He belied the reports that came out on that particular subject."
Valte further explained that any procurement of equipment is based really on the needs of the agency.
"...It would be also answering a hypothetical (question) in the sense that General Año has already said that there is no truth to that particular report that allegedly they were procuring intelligence equipment to surveil on opponents of the administration," the Malacanang official said.
"So, you know, at this point we don’t see a need to discuss further the fact that it may be used for other purposes, or at least to go into speculations on this point," she added.
Meanwhile, Valte assured that since President Aquino assumed office, he has always made sure that at least the assets that are available to the agency are used properly and that they are utilized for the correct purposes.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=633499