Energy exec cum PDP stalwart endorses wiretapping

By CONG B. CORRALES
Associate Editor

A RANKING official of Department of Energy has openly endorsed a queer method to curb corruption in government: wiretapping.

In a public post on his Facebook wall, Energy Undersecretary Benito Ranque advocated for a revolutionary government so as to enable the government to use wiretapping in its fight against corruption.

Ranque is also the deputy secretary for Mindanao of the administration party PDP-Laban. On his Facebook account, he also claimed to be a director at the office of Senate President Aquilino Martin Pimentel III.

Ranque’s post reads: “Wiretapping best weapon to track corruption. Not now coz (sic) Congress will not allow. Obvious. If Revgov many goes prison (sic).”

The public post was made at 12:18 pm Dec. 5 while the undersecretary is in Tangerang, Indonesia.

Ranque’s proposed wiretapping solution would mean empowering the government to curtail citizens’ right to privacy protected by Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Law.

PDP-Laban Cagayan de Oro council president Marlo Tabac said Ranque’s proposition does not reflect the stand of the administration party.

Tabac strongly disagreed with Ranque, stating that the party has always adhered to the rule of law.

He said PDP-Laban does not even support Ranque’s call for a revolutionary government much more to intruding into people’s privacy.

“The national council of PDP-Laban has never issued a statement of support to the call for a revolutionary government. We believe that President [Rodrigo] Duterte has enough power and mandate to push for federalism through a constitutional commission,” Tabac said.

He said PDP-Laban has been urging members of Congress to start the discussions on switching to federalism.

“Dapat nga sugdan na nila ang diskusyon sa federalism arun by 2018 maka kuha na kita’g referendum from the constituents,” said Tabac.