Manila 'checking' on claims of US espionage hub in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The Defense department is looking into a report that the United States (US) has used the Philippines as a spying hub in the region even as it claimed that it has not detected signs that would confirm it.

“We are having it (report) checked by our intelligence community,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told reporters yesterday.

“We are talking about that, whether it is being felt or if something is happening. So far, we have not seen signs,” he added.

Earlier, Australian media reported that the US had used the Philippines as a “listening post” in the region amid criticisms against Washington’s supposed spying on country allies. 

Australia’s ABC News said the US had set up surveillance facilities in Manila and other areas in Asia.

“A secret map released by (Edward) Snowden revealed the US had also set up surveillance facilities in embassies and consulates, including in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Yangon, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Beijing,” ABC said, referring to the former American intelligence operative who had leaked sensitive information to the media.

Previous reports had also cited secret documents about a US surveillance program that has been monitoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2002.

Malacañang has declined to comment on the issue, noting that the matter is within the purview of the defense and foreign affairs departments.

“That report was apparently taken from published news items and it would not be appropriate for me to make an official comment at this time,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio said in a recent press briefing.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), for its part, condemned the US for allegedly setting up spying facilities in the country.

“The CPP joins the Filipino people in expressing outrage at the espionage operations being conducted by the US government, in connivance with its allied governments, which violate Philippine sovereignty. The Filipino people cannot allow foreign imperialist powers to make use of the Philippines as a base for its interventionism against other independent countries,” CPP said in a statement.

“The CPP condemns the Aquino regime for sitting idly by and allowing the US security and defense agencies to use the Philippines as a listening post and wantonly engage in spy operations in outright violation of Philippine sovereignty,” it added.