DITO welcomes probe, says issue of ‘illegal' Chinese workers ‘rehashed'

GMA Network

21-05-2025

DITO Telecommunity Corporation on Wednesday broke its silence on the allegations that it employs 400 Chinese nationals without proper working visas, saying it welcomes the probe into what it called a 'rehashed' issue.
'Firstly, DITO welcomes the investigation of the DICT on the allegations that Chinese employees or partners of DITO are involved in spying,' the telco said.
DITO Tel issued the statement after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced it is launching an investigation into columnist Ramon Tulfo's claim that the company was allegedly employing Chinese nationals who 'have over-extended their tourist visas.'
The post said the 400 allegedly 'overstaying' Chinese might be endangering national security as they work for a telecom company.
'We are confident that this investigation will once again affirm the findings of the joint Audit of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Security Commission (NSC), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), conducted recently on April 8, 2025, which stated clearly that DITO has passed the Government standards for cybersecurity and has safeguarded its network facilities and information assets by establishing a robust security system and infrastructure,' DITO Tel said.
'In fact, DITO undergoes periodic cybersecurity audits as a requirement of its franchise and as a critical infrastructure under the Public Service Act,' the telco said, adding that the post-audit report of the recent joint audit of the DICT, NSC and NTC are valid until April 2027.
The telco further said that 'these allegations, and the questions on the legal status of non-Filipinos working at DITO, are not new to DITO.'
'We have been plagued by similar allegations since we were awarded by NTC to operate as the New Major Player in 2018,' it said.
'In fact, we have already addressed these claims numerous times in our Congressional hearings for the renewal of our franchise in 2021, and in various media fora henceforth,' it added.
On the issue on visas, DITO Tel said it has always been fully compliant with all requirements for employment of foreign nationals.
The telco also emphasized that it has specifically chosen retired major general Rodolfo Santiago as chief technology officer in charge of Network, IT, and Data Security; retired colonel Roleen Del Prado as head of Cybersecurity; and retired colonel Romeo Basco as head of Corporate Security.
'These retired men in uniform have dedicated and committed their lives to protecting the sovereignty of our country and security of our people, and they are sworn to continue to do so in their work at DITO,' it said.
The telco added that 'despite these allegations being rehashed,' it has grown its subscribers to 15 million since its commercial launch in March 2021.
'Along with our over a thousand Filipino officers and staff of DITO, we take very seriously the trust given by our 15 million subscribers. We will always provide our customers with the best possible service, protect the privacy of their data, and will never allow our company to be used for any activity that would be detrimental to the interests of our country and its people,' it said.
DITO Tel is 60% owned by DITO CME Holdings Corp., a unit of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy's conglomerate Udenna Group, while the remaining 40% is owned by state-owned China Telecommunications Corp.
DITO Tel was dubbed the 'third telco' in the country's telecommunications space as it was meant to disrupt the so-called duopoly of Globe and PLDT-Smart. — BM, GMA Integrated News