Dating Senior Associate Justice ng Korte Suprema Antonio Tirol Carpio (Edwin Bacasmas/Inquirer)
Idiniin si dating Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio na labag sa Saligang Batas ng bansa ang pagpapahintulot sa 100 porsyentong foreign ownership ng telecommunications firms sa Pilipininas.
Ganundin, nagbabala si Carpio sa panganib sa pambansang seguridad kapag ang telecommunication industry ay napasukan ng ibang bansa gaya ng China kapag
Ipinasa noong Marso ng Kamara ang House Bill 78 na nagpapahintulot ng 100 porsyentong pag-aari sa public utilities gaya ng telecommunication, transportasyon at koryente.
Pero sa isang webinar na isinagawa ng Philippine Bar Association, sinabi ni Carpio na ito ay labag sa 1987 Constitution.
Bagama’t sa inaprubahang panukalang batas na naglalayong amyendahan ang Public Service Act ay inalis ang transportasyon at telecommunications bilang public utilities, sinabi ng dating SC justice na sa ilalim ng kasalukuyan at mga nagdaang Saligang Batas, malinaw na ang telecommunications ay maituturing na isang public utility.
“Under the 1935, 1973, and 1987 Constitutions, telecommunications companies or telcos have always been understood to be public utilities,” sabi ni Carpio.
“Even if they can be classified as non-public utilities, must still be at least 60 percent Filipino owned since telcos utilize radio frequencies, a natural resource whose exportation is reserved under the Constitution,” sabi pa niya.
Sa ilalim ng Article 2, Section 12 ng Konstitusyon, sinabi ni Carpio na, “All natural resources are owned by the State. The State may directly [exploit such natural resources], or it may enter into co-production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens, or corporations at least 60 percent of whose capital is owned by such persons.”
“In short, even if [HB 78] becomes a law and somehow declared constitutional is not sufficient to allow foreigners to own more than 40% equity in telcos,” dagdag pa niya.
Ang posisyong ito ng dating mahistrado ay kinatigan ni Atty. Marlon Anthony R. Tonson, director at founding member ng Tagapagtanggol ng Watawat.
Ayon kay Tonson, isa sa mga reactor sa webinar, ang telco ay isang public utility at ang 60-40 ownership ay angkop at hindi maaaring baguhin ng kapangyarihan ng Kongreso.
“The Constitution cannot be changed by mere act of Congress,” sabi pa niya.