Justice chief proposes wiretapping drug syndicates

Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de Lima suggested amendments to the country’s anti-wiretapping law to allow authorities to wiretap suspected drug traffickers. She told this to congressmen, who asked him during a committee hearing how legislation could help curb the illegal drug trade. “In limited instances and maybe on very strict condition,” communication surveillance can help address “the proliferation of drug syndicates,” she said. Exempting drug-related cases from the Anti-Wiretapping Law or Republic Act 4200 would allow concerned government agencies through a court order to listen, intercept, and record calls without the consent of the suspected parties in communication.

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