MANILA, Philippines – Nanawagan si Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno kay Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Vince Dizon na hilingin sa mga empleyado at opisyal na isagawa ang bank secrecy waiver para mabilis na matanggal sa ahensya ang mga tiwaling opisyal.
Ginawa ni Diokno ang mungkahi matapos mangako si Dizon na aalisin ng ahensya ang mga tiwaling opisyal sa loob ng 60 araw, simula sa kanyang panawagan sa lahat ng opisyal na magsumite ng courtesy resignation.
“In relation to preserving the evidence, I just have a few suggestions given by my background in the legal profession. Perhaps it would be good to consider asking the employees and officials of DPWH to execute waivers of the bank secrecy law,” saad ni Diokno.
“Although that’s not part of the standard operating procedure. I think there’s no legal impediment in requesting them to do that,” dagdag niya.
Hinimok din ni Diokno si Dizon na mag-isyu ng Department Order na nagse-secure sa lahat ng electronic device na ibinigay ng gobyerno, mga computer na maaaring ginamit ng mga na-dismiss o nagretiro na o nagbitiw sa gitna ng mga isyu na nauugnay sa mga proyekto sa pagkontrol sa baha.
“Walang right to privacy ang mga opisyal na gumamit ‘non. And under the law and jurisprudence, you may access that and determine if there are communications there that are incriminating. Magagamit ‘yun laban sa kanila,” ani Diokno.
Dagdag pa, sinabi ni Diokno na maaari ring hilingin ng DPWH sa mga kumpanya ng telekomunikasyon na panatilihin ang mga talaan ng mga mobile phone na inisyu ng gobyerno sa mga empleyado ng DPWH.
“Again, there is no right to privacy on the part of the users for government officials and you may access text messages, cell phone calls, even locations of particular times – if there are issues about who they met with or when they met with them,” aniya.
“The Supreme Court has a rule on issuance of cyber warrants that would apply to all offenses including, I understand, corruption offenses that are done through the use of any kind of electronic or computer device. So, if you come up with information or evidence looking in that direction, perhaps it may be something to consider to secure warrants to intercept electronic data or to obtain data already found in cellphones and other electronic devices,” dagdag niya.
Bilang tugon, sinabi ni Dizon na makikipag-ugnayan ang DPWH sa iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno para matiyak na mananatiling buo ang ebidensya at malugod na tinatanggap ang mga mungkahi ni Diokno.
“We are already in touch with the Commission on Audit , and we will also be coordinating with the Philippine National Police Cybercrime unit to ask them to assist us on this,” saad ni Dizon.
“The things you said are very, very important. Thank you, Sir, for these invaluable suggestions,” dagdag niya. RNT/MND
