OCT 16, 2015

NR # 3989B

Congress passes bill authorizing wire-tapping

Law enforcers will soon be allowed to wire tap cases involving violations of Republic Act
9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill exempting wire
tapping from the restrictions under Republic Act 4200 otherwise known as An Act to Prohibit and
Penalize Wire Tapping and Other Related Violations of the Privacy of Communication, and for Other
Purposes, in drug-related cases.
In defending House Bill 6107, Rep. Vicente F. Belmonte, Jr. (Lone District, Iligan City),
chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and principal author, said RA 9165 has, for
more than a decade, provided the drug law enforcement units the arsenal for the government's all-out
war against the drug menace.
However, Belmonte said, despite the accomplishments in supply and demand reduction, drug
syndicates have become fearless and resourceful in plying their nefarious trade.
Convicted drug lords operate within the secured confines of their detention facilities,
clandestine laboratories are set-up in exclusive villages and high rise condominiums at the heart of
Metro Manila, drug peddlers have grown in numbers including children and senior citizens,
Belmonte said.
There is an urgent need to equip our drug law enforcers with the capability to stop the drug
menace at its very core, to cut the roots of the drug syndicates and convict drug lords and not just the
peddlers, Belmonte stressed.
According to Belmonte, in most anti-drug operations, only the small players are rounded up
while the drug lords remain scot-free.
The measure shall strengthen the anti-drug campaign of government by authorizing law
enforcers to wiretap, intercept, and record the communications and surveillance of pushers,
manufacturers, cultivators, importers and financiers of dangerous drugs, Belmonte said.
Under the measure, violations of RA 9165 shall be included among the offenses that are
exempted from the restrictions under RA 4200.
Section 3 of Republic Act 4200 and all other laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive
orders, letter of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent
with the provisions of the proposed Act are amended.
The Court of First Instance in the Republic Act 4200 shall be replaced with the Regional
Trial Court.
Other authors are Reps. Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District, Negros Occidental), Bai Sandra Sema (1 st
District, Maguindanao and Cotabato City), Leopoldo Bataoil (2 nd District, Pangasinan), and Samuel
Pagdilao (Party List, ACT-CIS). (30) jc