Senate minority bloc (Drilon et. al.) oppose China Telecom

Not so fast.

The Senate minority bloc which are composed of the opposition senators namely,

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon as well as Senators Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, Francis Pangilinan and Antonio Trillanes 4th, questions the just concluded bidding for the country’s third telco player.

Senate Minority bloc, lead by Senate Minority leader Franklin Drilon (photo credit to owner)

They have raised questions as to the selection of Mislatel consortium as the “provisional” new major player (NMP) in the country’s telecommunications industry.

“Why were the other bidders booted out? Simply to show that the government went through the process?” the opposition senators asked.

The minority bloc also raises the question or possibility that Malacanang was involved in ensuring that China Telecommmunications Corporation (China Telecom) can begin its operations by the first quarter of 2019.

Presidential Legal adviser and concurrent Presidential spokesperson Atty. Salvador Panelo already released a press statement that the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte did not intervene in the selection of the third telco.

“There was a transparent, fair, public and open selection process, done in accordance with laws, as well as with pertinent rules and regulations,” Atty. Panelo said.

In separate statements Senator Francis Escudero and Joel Villanueva corroborated Panelo’s statement holding the selection process for the NMP was conducted “orderly and transparent.”

The two even commended the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Senator Grace Poe has a different concern on the matter, she has reservations with China Telecom as part of the consortium. She is calling out the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other intelligence agencies to weigh in on the repercussions of China Telecom being part of our telecommunications industry.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.  has already addressed this issue saying that they (AFP) played a role in the selection of the 3^rd telco.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri in a media forum said that it would be unfair to imply China Tlecom’s presence in Mislatel consortium would be an outright national security concern.

“I believe China Telecom is a publicly listed firm in mainland China. The books are open, they are transparent,” Zubiri said.

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Report from The Manila Times