Latest news with #FerdinandMarcos
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DICT defends Konektadong Pinoy Act, welcomes dialogue
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Tuesday addressed several issues concerning the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, saying it welcomes the public dialogue surrounding the measure, which is now awaiting the President's signature. In a statement, the DICT said it acknowledges the concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding potential regulatory and cybersecurity risks. 'We affirm our shared commitment with civil society, industry, and government partners to uphold national security, consumer protection, and universal access to secure, affordable, and reliable internet,' the ICT Department said. The agency, moreover, issued clarifications to address pressing issues on the Konektadong Pinoy bill. 'The DICT will never allow deregulation at the expense of security or public interest. The Konektadong Pinoy Bill does not weaken the role of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC),' it said. 'On the contrary, it modernizes and strengthens NTC's mandate to respond faster and more effectively to digital-age challenges — including the ability to issue compliance directives on cybersecurity, quality of service, and fair competition under streamlined frameworks,' it added. The DICT further said that it is already preparing complementary Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) that explicitly reinforce the NTC's role as the technical regulator with teeth — not just a passive licensing body. On the issues of foreign ownership and national security, the ICT Department stressed, 'National security is a non-negotiable priority.' 'The DICT, in coordination with national security agencies, will ensure that no foreign-controlled entity gains access to critical digital infrastructure without undergoing multi-layered vetting and continuous monitoring,' it said. 'The bill introduces open access within defined segments — particularly the middle mile and last mile — to address the broadband gap. But backbone and core infrastructure remain governed by existing ownership and security laws, including the Public Service Act and Cybercrime Prevention Act,' it added. Critics of the measure, including the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), composed of the country's leading telcos, and the Philippine Association of Private Telecommunications Companies (PAPTELCO), have flagged security issues as it would allow new entrants to not require a legislative franchise. Under the measure, new data transmission players are no longer required to secure a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). Meanwhile, cybersecurity stakeholders — Women in Security Alliance Philippines (WiSAP), Scam Watch Pilipinas, BPO Security Council, PhilDev S&T Foundation, and the Philippines CIO Association — urged President Ferdinand Marcos to address the cybersecurity risks found in the Konektadong Pinoy Bill either 'through a veto with recommendations, immediate amendments post-enactment, or complementary executive actions.' The DICT addressed issues on the removal of the legislative franchise requirement in the bill, saying it 'was carefully deliberated to accelerate deployment in underserved areas, especially in remote provinces.' 'It does not apply to telcos.' 'The DICT emphasizes that all entities must still secure proper permits, undergo security reviews, and be subject to the oversight of DICT and its attached agencies,' it added. The agency said that there will be no 'grace period' for negligence. 'The three-year clause cited in the bill refers only to minimum standards for legacy compliance, not to active threat management. All new entrants will be required to comply with baseline cybersecurity controls before operations begin, under the direct supervision of the DICT and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC),' the DICT said. The ICT Department said it is actively consulting with legal, civil society, and cybersecurity partners 'as we finalize the IRR and bicameral inputs.' 'We invite groups to submit position papers, recommend safeguards, and participate in our technical working groups. This law is not an endpoint — it is a starting point for deeper reform, built on transparency, accountability, and collaboration,' it said. The agency said that it is reaffirming its 'core objective,' which is 'to make the internet a right, not a privilege.' 'We are open to better ideas. But we must act decisively and together—because every day without action is another day of digital exclusion for millions of Filipinos. Let's connect the country—securely, inclusively, and responsibly,' the DICT said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Pogos in Pakistan? Scheme to traffic Filipinos shows ‘evolution' of scam operations
A scheme to traffic Filipinos into Pakistan to work for gaming firms formerly based in the Philippines has exposed the latest evolution of online scam networks linked to the controversial Pogo industry, immigration officials and analysts warn. The case – the first known incident involving Filipinos being trafficked to Pakistan – suggests that criminal syndicates previously operating under Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) licences are shifting to new jurisdictions following a government crackdown on the sector. On July 6, four Filipinos bound for Hong Kong were intercepted at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport after immigration officers found discrepancies in their statements. Investigators later discovered that their real destination was Pakistan – and that one of them, a former Pogo worker, had been recruited by a Chinese ex-employer who had relocated operations after President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr ordered a nationwide Pogo shutdown last year. In October, the Marcos administration ordered foreign Pogo workers in the country to voluntarily downgrade their visas before 2025 or face deportation. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr last year ordered a nationwide Pogo shutdown. Photo: AP The four Filipinos intercepted at the airport last week were the 'first confirmed case involving Pakistan', Melvin Mabulac, the Bureau of Immigration's deputy spokesman, confirmed in a television interview with ABS-CBN News last week.
Daily Tribune
11-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Philippine President Marcos to visit US
Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos will visit the United States from July 20 to 22, Manila's department of foreign affairs said Friday, after the country was hit with trade tariffs of 20 percent imposed by Washington. "We are working with the U.S. State Department to finalize the details of the visit," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine ambassador to the United States, told AFP Friday that Marcos is set to meet with US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss "defense and economic ties". Manila and Washington have deepened their cooperation since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on Beijing's South China Sea claims. Bound by a 1951 mutual defence treaty, the two allies conduct frequent maritime exercises in the disputed waterway with Washington warning that it is committed to defend the Philippines if Filipino forces or vessels come under attack. It will be the first official visit of Marcos to the United States since Trump took office.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Philippines summons Chinese envoy over sanctions against former senator
MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines' foreign ministry has summoned China's ambassador to Manila over Beijing's imposition of sanctions against former senator Francis Tolentino, the president's office said on Tuesday. Tolentino, who lost his bid for a second term in the Philippines' midterm elections in May, was barred entry to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau over "egregious conduct" detrimental to relations between Manila and Beijing. "The imposition of punitive measures ... is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states," presidential press officer Claire Castro told a briefing. Manila's foreign ministry said Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian was summoned on Friday. The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Chinese foreign ministry has previously accused some Filipino politicians of making "malicious remarks and moves" that hurt ties between the two nations. Relations between China and the Philippines have soured under President Ferdinand Marcos over a longstanding dispute in the South China Sea. A 2016 ruling by an international tribunal voided Beijing's sweeping claims to the region, saying they have no basis in international law, a decision China rejects.
Reuters
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Philippines summons Chinese envoy over sanctions against former senator
MANILA, July 8 (Reuters) - The Philippines' foreign ministry has summoned China's ambassador to Manila over Beijing's imposition of sanctions against former senator Francis Tolentino, the president's office said on Tuesday. Tolentino, who lost his bid for a second term in the Philippines' midterm elections in May, was barred entry to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau over "egregious conduct" detrimental to relations between Manila and Beijing. "The imposition of punitive measures ... is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states," presidential press officer Claire Castro told a briefing. Manila's foreign ministry said Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian was summoned on Friday. The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Chinese foreign ministry has previously accused some Filipino politicians of making "malicious remarks and moves" that hurt ties between the two nations. Relations between China and the Philippines have soured under President Ferdinand Marcos over a longstanding dispute in the South China Sea. A 2016 ruling by an international tribunal voided Beijing's sweeping claims to the region, saying they have no basis in international law, a decision China rejects.
