PNP man in wiretap to testify at Senate

The police officer who allegedly obtained computer records from a telephone company said yesterday that he is ready to face the Senate impeachment tribunal if summoned.

Superintendent Rodolfo Mendoza said he is willing to appear before the court to prove that he did not spy on senators acting as judges in the impeachment trial of President Estrada.

"I will not engage in this kind of tactic," said Mendoza, who was a former chief intelligence officer of the Philippine National Police.

PNP chief Director Ge-neral Panfilo Lacson told the Senate tribunal on Thursday he had "circumstantial evidence" that a female employee of the Phi-lippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), Flovina Pasamba, had illegally provided the computer records to an officer of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

Lacson did not say who the officer was, but said they were conducting an investigation to determine the culprit.

Pasamba was allegedly Mendoza’s girlfriend.

During Thursday’s hearing, Lacson said they will establish Pasamba’s connection with the PAOCTF officer.

Lacson still refused to name who the police officer is, considering that their investigation is still ongoing.

"I can reveal the police officer’s name only after the complete investigation and after we have submitted the report to the Senate," he said.

He said the PNP will file an administrative case against the policeman if it is proven that the officer engaged in wiretapping activities. As for Pasamba, he said he will let the PLDT management take care of its employee.

The probe is being conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Chief Superintendent Francisco Zubia, who is also PAOCTF director for administration.

Meanwhile, Lacson laughed off allegations that the PAOCTF is in constant touch with the PLDT to eavesdrop on senators and members of the prosecution panel.

He said the task force coordinates with the telecommunications giant "only in crime-related operations."