Earlier, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said military units have programs and activities to ensure the security of their communications. #DitoTelecommunity

The AFP-Dito Telecommunity partnership was sealed Wednesday. (Katropa DWDD)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reiterated Sunday that security precautions are in place to protect it against foreign spying in light of a deal to have the infrastructure of a new telecommunications firm be located inside military camps.

Allaying fears that leasing AFP property for Dito Telecommunity’s communications towers and other equipment may expose AFP to Chinese spying as the telco consortium includes China Telecom as co-owner, AFP Spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the AFP has already put up appropriate safeguards.

The AFP-Mislatel partnership was sealed Wednesday with Maj Gen. Adrian Sanchez Jr., AFP’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems, J6, and Atty. Adel Tamano, Chief Administrative Officer of Mislatel, signing the memorandum of agreement (MoA).

Dennis Uy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dito Telecommunity, expressed gratitude to the AFP for opening its camps to the company.

“We at Dito Telecommunity are truly grateful to the AFP for this partnership. The roll-out of Dito’s towers is indeed one herculean feat. With this partnership with the AFP, we are nearer our goal of building a wide and robust network,” Uy said.

Earlier, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said military units have programs and activities to ensure the security of their communications.

“Part of our role in the Armed Forces is being security conscious,” Madrigal said last week.

He added that the AFP has similar MoA with other telcos that significantly improved the ICT infrastructure of the AFP.

“We are optimistic that this opportunity will also bring great benefits to the armed forces,” Madrigal said referring to the partnership with Dito Telecommunity which is co-owned by Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. and Udenna Corp.

Madrigal is set to endorse the MoA with Dito to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.