LETTERS TO DENY EXISTENCE OF ALLEGED WIRETAPPING

May 19, 1999
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Dear __________________

This has reference to the series of "exclusive" news reports written by Alcuin Papa and Donna Policar of Manila Times regarding the alleged illegal wiretapping activities allegedly undertaken by the Presidential Anti- Organized Crime Task Force under my supervision. The issue which effectively diverted the original issue on drugs intervention of high ranking PNP officers, caused a chilling effect and an alarm among the citizenry particularly those whose names were reported as "targets". Mixed reactions were elicited in the process.

In the alleged reports, a source was quoted or allegedly had shown a copy of a Project Proposal or a Case Operations Plan dubbed as OPLAN HABAGAT VECTOR ALPHA allegedly launched by the undersigned in February 1999 further naming SRSUPT MAGTANGGOL GATDULA, SRSUPT MICHAEL RAY B AQUINO, SR SUPT CEZAR O MANCAO II, Lt Col DIOSCORO REYES, CINSP DENNIS (earlier reported as Michael ) AGUSTIN, and SUPT PAUL TUCAY as part of the plan. Succeeding reports of the Manila Times daily disclosed that an alleged shadow office named OFFICE of the SECURITY INVESTIGATION and ASSIGNMENT was put up to monitor businessmen and other personalities in government. Maliciously they attributed a security agency operated by the family of one of my officers was set-up purposely for wiretapping. In a related report, the Manila Times named 300 targets and you are one of those listed.

The wiretapping allegation against us and including you as one of our targets is absolutely false. There is no PROJECT or CASE OPERATIONS PLAN HABAGAT VECTOR ALPHA. To undertake such ambitious and illegal activity, one must need the following:

300 lines need a personnel complement of 900 people divided at two (on a 12hr shift) per line and another one to transcribe /listen to the tapes. This could be more if the target has two lines in the office or residence.

NOTE: The Task Force has a total personnel strength of 723 nationwide, 332 of which are Luzon and Metro Manila based

300 telephone lines 300 safehouses @ P5000/month rental or P1,500,000./mo 300 advance/deposit for the safehouses 4,500,000. 300 tape recorders @ P1000/tape recorder 300,000. Subsistence allowance of 900 persons @P100/day 2,700,000./mo Electricity/water bills of the shouse @P3000/mo 900,000/mo 27,000 cassette tapes/ month @P90/tape 2,430,000/mo (3 tapes/safehouse) 300 blackboxes

Based on the above presentation, it is statistically, mathematically and physically impossible to undertake such mission by the PAOCTF. Additionally, we strongly deny the existence of PROJECT HABAGAT VECTOR ALPHA. Rest assured that you are not a subject of wire tapping activities. We are fully aware of the provisions of RA 4200 and the exceptions prescribed by the said law. Furthermore, we have more important things to do in the anti- criminality campaign than to encroach in your privacy

The alleged "source" and the Manila Times editors and reporters who ran the story owes you and the public an explanation. They should be investigated by the DOJ and the NBI on the following grounds:

Declassify the Project or COPLAN HABAGAT-VECTOR- ALPHA and show it to the public and to the investigators immediately.

Show the approval sheet of the COPLAN or PROJECT.

Show the alleged list of targets

Show the signatures of the officers originally affixed in the project

Present the documents relative to the procurement of EFRAT bugging device from Israel

Find out who used and the end users of the alleged bugging device

Since this issue destroyed and maligned our credibility, we challenge the Manila Times reporters and editors to expose and declassify all their available holdings relative to the alleged HABAGAT VECTOR ALPHA which listed you as one target. Otherwise, we treat this as one of the PR maneuvers, black propaganda and diversionary tactics of some sectors of our society.

We reiterate that we never tapped nor bugged any of your telephone lines. Moreover, we assure you that we will always do our job within the legal bounds of the law. Likewise you can freely use your telephone anytime.

We hope you understand our honest explanation and accept our sincere assurances.

Sincerely yours,

PANFILO M LACSON
Police Director PNP
Chief, PAOCTF

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