The Department of Information and Communications Technology warned against possible security threats if cell sites were built in or near military camps.

DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said in a radio interview on Sunday that Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co.’s (Mislatel) agreement with the Armed Forces of the Philippines should be under strict monitoring.

“We have a lot of experience protecting cyber security,” Rio said in Filipino. “Cell sites can be used to hack information if we’re not careful.”

Eliseo said the DICT will closely monitoring telcos to avoid espionage and will carefully review the program of the agreement.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. earlier said the public should not be worried about the agreement. He said added that the miltary have recognized the “threat” and stressed they have proactive measures to address the concerns.

Mislatel, the country’s third major telecommunications player led by Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corporation, and the AFP entered into an agreement on 11 September, with the military to identify specific locations where Mislatel can install and manage communication equipment without undermining the operations of affected units.

The Mislatel consortium will begin services in 2020 as Dito Telecommunity. Also part of the group are Udenna subsidiary Chelsea Logistics Holdings and foreign state-owned China Telecom.