The President's bugging office.pdf

Media

Part of Panorama

extracted text: ■ The President of the Philippines is being accused of violating the right of privacy. THE PRESIDENT'S BUGGING OFFICE President Marcos has re vealed that he has bugged his office and has been able to secure tape-recordings of confidential and compromis ing conversations with vi sitors. The revelation was made in Cebu at a public rally in which he presented the NP candidates for sen ator. We have heard of the Russians bugging American and other embassies in Mos cow for purposes of espio nage, but this is about the first time that the President of a free country has secretly tape-recorded his conversa tions with his visitors. In an official press release of Sept. 3, 1967, the Malacanang press office quoted the President as having said in his Cebu speech: "Don’t you know that ma ny of these supposed candi dates (presumably the LP senatorial candidates) fre quent my office in Malacanang asking for favors from me? I have tape-recordings of each and everyone of them. And if they are in terested to find out what they said, I will give them a copy of the tape-recordings. "Some of them can be a basis for criminal action like attempted bribery. So, if they really want proofs, they should come to me. "There is not a single one of them who has not gone to my office begging for favors. "I have refused them, some of them for appointments for high office. I think you know whom I am talking about. Some of them for concessions, some of them for contracts, the Manila Hotel; some of them for re parations items. "I repeat, if they want to hear the tape-recordings, I will accommodate them." There are several ways of looking at the startling pres 2 Panorama idential revelation From his side, the President deli berately recorded confiden tial conversation with him for his own purpose. Has he gathered evidence against his visitors for purposes of prosecution? Has he record ed their own words that would place them in com promising positions, if re vealed, for political pur poses? On the side of the Pres ident’s visitors, it can be said that the President has betrayed their confidence in him. If they talked to him about confidential matters, it is because they trust him. Now they know that the President has something which, if published, would harm their candidacies. Should they not better with draw before the President feels compelled to reveal their conversations to the public? What do the people think of it all? From now on, the President and his office will assume a sinister aspect as far as they are concerned. People see the President for various reasons, most of which are confidential. Some complain against certain pub lic officials for unfairness, arrogance, inefficiency or ex tortion. Others beg him for favors. Oftentimes they do not wish their names to be revealed for fear of retalia tion and persecution, parti cularly if the officials con cerned are vindictive and powerful. Will the people, after knowing that what they say may be tape-recorded, continue to entrust thenconfidences to the President? Or has Mr. Marcos damaged the public image of the pres idency by his bugging and his revelation? — V. Albano Pads, Manila Chronicle, Sept. 6, 1967. September 1967 3
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