MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on dangerous drugs yesterday endorsed a bill allowing wiretapping in drug cases.
Bill 5839, authored by committee chairman Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 4200, or the Anti-Wiretapping Law.
The amendment includes “violations of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” among the offenses where a regional trial court can allow wiretapping.
The offenses enumerated in the law include rebellion, conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion, inciting to sedition, kidnapping, espionage and other crimes against national security.
The law enforcement agency applying for a wiretapping permit would be required to present witnesses who can testify that a crime covered by the law is about to be committed.