ACTS-OFW Partylist Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III has welcomed House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to conduct an oversight hearing or legislative briefing on the suspected passport data breach at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Bertiz, a member of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, said it is important that leaders and members of the House are properly and accurately informed to find out if there was indeed a serious breach of personal data.
“We are getting conflicting statements from our government officials about the whole controversy.”
“We are getting conflicting statements from our government officials about the whole controversy. It is important that we obtain accurate information from them and find out if there are some gaps or loopholes in our present laws,” he said.
“I agree that there should be no place for finger-pointing as the matter should be taken seriously because it has deep consequences not only to the integrity of our personal data but also, most especially, to our national security,” he added.
Last Jan. 16, Arroyo turned down calls for the House leadership to open an investigation into the alleged passport data breach after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin claimed that a former private contract ran off with passport data.
She added she is amenable to a House-initiated investigation or inquiry as long as it is and should be in aid of legislation – or in the form of an oversight hearing or briefing.
“It has deep consequences not only to the integrity of our personal data but also, most especially, to our national security.”
As a member of the House minority bloc, Bertiz pointed out that the House leadership should take a second hard look at the recommendations contained in Foreign Affairs Committee Report No. 495 submitted last Nov. 28.
“During that time, we conducted public hearings, meetings and ocular inspections to find out what causes the delays in the processing and issuance of passport, whether such delays were due to mechanical or technical problems,” he said.
“It is also good to review the Committee’s recommendations and find out if the government needs safeguard measures to preserve and protect the integrity of personal data and prevent from being held hostage by erring private contractor,” he added.
In December 2016, Bertiz has filed House Resolution No. 646 calling for an investigation into the persistent delays in the processing and issuance of passports to applicants and to find out how the Passport Revolving Fund is being utilized.
“Congress is about to go on recess for the upcoming elections, which is why the time for a legislative inquiry is very limited. But protecting private information should be a top priority for the government, as Filipinos trust that the data they provide for different government transactions is secured and not used for any wrongdoing. Let’s not break that trust,” he said.
