The politicians will surely be up in arms now over the revelation that the wiretapping operation may have been a little wider than first supposed by many. But I have claimed in numerous previous posts however, that the violations of RA4200 involved are completely independent of the CONTENT of any of the conversations. Someone used the military intelligence service to illegally eavesdrop on the Commander in chief and dozens, perhaps hundres of others. That someone should be punished to the full extent of the national security laws, whoever that someone is, even if it is the Commander in chief herself!
The self-evident violations of Republic Act 4200, the Antiwiretapping Law, embodied in the very existence of the Garci Recordings, AS OFFENSES AGAINST NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS, are being investigated by the Senate, under the tireless and dogged efforts of SENATOR RODOLFO BIAZON, who has done more to understand the awesome implications of this angle of the Gloriagate story than anyone else. Everyone has been so fixated on the VOTERIGGING aspect of thing that no one has paid much attention to the obvious: Someone made the Garci Recordings and its many copies. That someone obviously did so illegally, since at least one of its pariticpants, Virgilio Garcillano has claimed he did not authorize such recordings. Ipso facto, they are illegally acquired recordings.
Well if you are just tuning in to this issue just now, have you got a lot of catching up to do. Lucky for you there are all these posts from PHILIPPINE COMMENTARY on this subject:
The Wire Tapping. The Wire Tapping!
Was the Adam and Eve of All Tapes Digital?
Overhearing the Palace Thinking
Rope-a-Dope Trap: Garci as Poisoned Pawn?
Fingerprinting the Human Voice
Judas Goat On Top Of Mount Pinatubo
Supreme Court Will Now Rule in Garci's Favor
Stunning Break in Gloriagate Controversy
Fourteen Soldiers Are Hostages of ISAFP
Long Live the Anti Wire Tapping Law!
The Right to Privacy and the Public's Right to Know
Only the Opposition Can Save GMA
Dilemma of the Poisoned Fruits
Freedom and Garci's Second Petition
National Security is the Highest National Interest
GENERAL RUDOLFO CANIESO, a supporter of Sen. Panfilo Lacson's presidential candidacy in 2004 and former Director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency had an interesting point to make about the EQUIPMENT needed to undertake a CELLPHONE wiretapping operation successfully. He testified at the hearing that only GOVERNMENTS could legally purchase the sophisticated gear needed to eavesdrop on TRI-BAND FREQUENCY HOPPING cellphone conversations. Documents presented at the Senate hearing showed that typical "digital GSM cellular interceptor" systems would cost about 25 million pesos (US $420,000.00). Gen Canieso emphasized the point that a "CERTIFICATE OF END-USER" is required by all legitimate vendors, effectively restricting civilians from acqujiring such equipment. It was quite ironic that the first tape played by Sen. Biazon happened to contain a wiretap of Gen. Canieso's own cellphone. Gen. Canieso also made the very important point that cellular phone communicatins are DIGITALLY encoded by the service provider, as Philippine Commentary considered in WAS THE ADAM AND EVE OF ALL TAPES DIGITAL Interestingly, Gen. Canieso would not rule out PING LACSON being able to afford such equipment.
A Google Search for "digital cellular GSM interceptor" yields the following information
Cellular Telephone Interceptor Multi Digital Versions
(Including GSM amd TDMA)
GSM System $420,000.00 GSM Interceptor Pro
This is an advanced monitoring system designed to intercept GSM cellular traffic.
It is the most sophisticated - advanced state of the art equipment of it's kind. It is custom made to certain specifications according to the cellular system in your countryFeatures
8 channels 900/1800 MHz,
(System with 1900 MHz is also available).
The system can target specific numbers or randomly screen GSM mobile Communication.
Conversations are monitored and logged simultaneously to voice and data logger for storage and retrieval..
Housed in industrial PC 19” rack mounted portable cabinet with attached keyboard and LCD monitor. Weight:12 Kg about 23 Lb.
Decodes voice codes LPT, RPE and EFR.
Works with identificators IMSI, TMSI, IMEI, and MSISDN.
Can receive BCCH, CCCH, SACCH, SDCCH, FACCH, and TCH
Find incoming call number when call ID is available.
Intercept 1 voice duplex Channel.
Possibility to receive SNS Messages.
Working range: Forward Channel 25 KM or 15.6 Mils, Reverse Channel depends on conditions - varies from 300 to 800 meters, or up to half a mile
If unidirectional antennas are used, the range can be increased.Encryption Modes:
A5.2 cooperation with network operator is not needed, the system works in real time.
A5.1 If cooperation with network operator is possible, the system works in real time.If cooperation with network operator is not possible but there is an access to mobile phone, information can be extracted directly from SIM card, Extraction time – 15 Min., SIM card
scanner should be added to the system.With special hardware and software module A5.1 Decoder the interceptor works without
Cooperation with network operator. Item: 4001-D.TDMA System $280,000.00 TDMA Interceptor Pro
The system is an advanced monitoring system designed to intercept TDMA cellular calls.
Designed to work in networks that specifically using D-AMPS.Features
Scan Control Channels to locate a working base station in a given area.
Automatic adjustments in the configuring file.
Fast receivers presetting using data from the configuration files.
Store telephone conversations on the hard drive.
Monitoring the activity of phone numbers from the “list of interest”.
Listening and recording all phone conversations of the accessible base station or only from the “list of interest”.
Displaying and recording all events in the control channels.
Displaying status of all phones from the “list of interest”.The system can control the following channels :
Forward control channels IS-S4 & IS-136 (monitoring of incoming calls in one cell)
Forward traffic channel (listening to conversations in the forward/ outgoing direction)
Reverse control channel (defines outgoing phone numbers).
Note:We may sell the unit to you only if you representing a government or law enforcement agency or you are selling it to the Government or a Law Enforcement agency in your country.
We will 100% verify it and also require a letter certifying that.Demonstration
Our technician will travel to demonstrate the unit in your country, the demonstration is usually done upon 2 weeks notification.
We will send 2 people to your country For demonstration, cost for demonstration $10,000.00Available to Law Enforcement agencies ONLY.
For inquiries: please e mail to info@spylife.com or call our office 818-516-3583
SENATOR SERGIO OSMENA III appears to be the techie in the Senate, dropping the correct meanings of TDMA, CDMA and GSM for the education of a somewhat befuddled Juan Ponce Enrile.
2 comments:
Hopefully senator Biazon's inquiry will end up differently from the other senate inquiries.
It's in aid of legislation, so supposed to be, a good law will be enacted and "implemented".
But I would be very interested on the 'truth' behind all these. Who approved of it? Who benefited from it? and many more questions that begs to be answered. I'll definitely watch out for developments!
Hi DJB,
Am sceptical about the outcome over the about hulla balloo in the Senate.
I can't remember when ONE national scandal, i.e, law breaking events, political, financial shennanigans, etc., investigated by either the lower or the higher chamber involving legal personalities, national politicians, including family members, friends and supporters of the current Malacanang occupant that culminated in an indictment of a culprit or culprits.
(Erap was a victim of a plot and his being jailed has nothing to do with a bona-fide Congress investigation efforts.)
I posted a similar message in this blog sometime ago: Sets pf wiretapping equipment were sold to members of ISAFP and PNP in 2001 paid for in cash, some guys from PSG helped in the 'technical evaluation,' etc.. The budget that had been earmarked then was 35 million pesos at the time.
A European country sold a set of equipment to RP when it received an end user certificate which was required then by the exporting country.
Max Soliven published my inputs in his column on the same score a while ago - immediately after Gonzales said that the country had no wiretapping ability - just can't remember date.
Look for those guys who shopped for and bought the equipment and you can start tracing the source.
DJB, the witnesses in the Senate like Robles, Honasan et al do NOT have the credibiity vis a vis their comrades - the AFP guys who are in the know will never come out because those two guys are not worth the sacrifice.
Unless Biazon starts 'shooting', his investigation will lead to nowhere.
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