SEN. Panfilo Lacson has proposed the expansion of crimes covered under Republic Act 4200, or the Anti-Wire Tapping Act
Lacson, under his still unnumbered proposed measure, wants the law to also include coup d’etat, conspiracy and proposal to commit coup d’etat, robbery in band, brigandage or highway robbery, violations of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and violations of RA 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001.
He said law enforcement agencies may conduct wiretapping activities or intercept private communications with proper court approval in relation to the additional crimes.
Under RA 4200, only the crimes of treason, espionage,rebellion, and kidnapping are covered.
Lacson said wiretapping has been an effective tool against “exceptional crimes” concerning national security, but there are “certain crimes” that are not covered by the law which equally pose grave danger to the country’s national security.
“Unfortunately, there are still certain crimes that are not covered under the said exceptional cases, which put not only the lives and property of our people in paramount danger, but also pose a grave threat to our nation’s security,” he said.
Lacson’s proposed bill also seeks to regulate the sale or importation of any equipment for wiretapping by requiring prior written permit from the Department of Information and Communications Technology before such can be done.
It will also restrict to limited source bidding or direct contracting the acquisition of such equipment by the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Lacson said those who will be found guilty of violating the provisions of the proposed measure shall be meted six to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of P1 to P5 million.
Those who manufacture, assemble, sell, import, distribute or dispose wiretapping equipment will also face a jail term of three to six years and a fine of P500,000 to P2 million.
