We cannot just simply inform you about what we are doing. But, of course, our units have programs and activities to ensure the security of our communications.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.

The whole nation can rest easy if the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) leadership is not worried about a recent deal with a telecommunications firm with a strong foreign partner.

The military said it is fully aware of the security implications of the memorandum of agreement (MoA) it entered into with Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. (Mislatel), allowing the consortium with China Telecom to put up facilities inside military camps and installations.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. recognized the “threat” posed by having commercial installations inside military camps, but stressed the AFP has proactive measures to address the concerns, and that it is not lowering its guards.

“We cannot just simply inform you about what we are (doing). But, of course, our units have programs and activities to ensure the security of our communications,” Madrigal said.

At the same time, he emphasized that the MoA with Mislatel, also known as Dito Telecommunity, is nothing new as the AFP has similar arrangements with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom.

“All of these things, well, all of them are, even Globe or Smart… there is a threat… so all of them, we know they are vulnerable,” Madrigal explained.

Threat of possible espionage was raised to the AFP chief as one of the partners of Mislatel is China Telecom.

The Philippines and China are entangled in a territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea.

“Part of our role in the Armed Forces is being security conscious,” he assured.

Asked about the capability of the AFP to detect espionage or react in a worst-case scenario, Madrigal replied, “All countries are vulnerable to that and we continue to (build) our intelligence units.”

As part of the proactive measures, the AFP will have access to the commercial facilities for inspection, and they should not interfere with military activities.

The AFP and Mislatel signed the MoA on Wednesday allowing the new major telecommunications company to build its communications facilities inside military camps and installations in various parts of the country.

Based on the agreement, the AFP will determine specific locations with its rental value for use of Mislatel in the installation and management of its communications sites without undermining the operations of affected AFP units.

On the other hand, Mislatel is required to “furnish all equipment, labor and materials necessary to effect the co-location of its facilities and shoulders all expenses in connection with or incidental to the co-location” and payment of all taxes, permits, licenses and other charges.

Payment will be made by providing communications, electronics and information systems equipment, upgrade, services and training to the AFP equivalent to the monetary value of the lease subject to inflation.

Madrigal stressed that Globe and Smart currently have antenna or cellular sites co-located inside military camps.

“They (Mislatel) will just co-locate,” he said.