Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Installation of 'spy cams' in metro suspicious: Villar By Rimaliza Opiña
THE installation of spy cameras in select areas in Metro Manila at a time when government is again in the middle of controversy is suspicious, said Senate President Manuel "Manny" Villar Jr.
Reacting over reports that police have been installing cameras in areas identified where members of civil society and militant groups congregate, Villar said the timing of the installation of these cameras, reportedly for security reasons, is a characteristic of a government which represses the right of the public to criticize it.
Villar said those captured by these cameras can be the subject of government surveillance because of the availability of database for the identification of people critical of government.
He said the present government actuations are reminiscent of the repressive Marcos regime, where movements of people are being closely watched.
He doubted that the close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are meant for traffic monitoring and believed the timing is an indication that these are meant to spy on people's movement.
"This is one of the ingredients we saw in a dictator's regime," said Villar.
The Senate President said the use of cameras to spy on people does not augur well in a democratic country like the Philippines.
Another senator, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., echoed Villar's claim saying disenchantment over the sad state of affairs in the country is driving the ordinary citizens to join street marches and protests.
National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr. took exception to concerns raised by some senators, saying the installation of CCTV cameras was not meant to monitor the movement of groups who are against the Arroyo administration.
"We have been installing CCTVs long before this controversy," said Razon, adding the move was patterned after London where he said CCTVs proliferates.
In London, Razon said there is no area that is not covered by a CCTV. "Crime fighting, crime prevention is aided by CCTV and this is the reason why they easily solved the London underground bombing through CCTV," he said.
