The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) is now under fire after it allegedly lifted satirical news from a blog and passed it off as a confidential report.
Now, this is alarming as NICA functions as “the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of the Philippine government.” It’s basically in charge of carrying out intelligence programs.
The fake news article in question was published last July on the blog, A New Philippines.
The blog, by the way, issues this disclaimer for all its satirical articles: “This specific article is partly for satirical and entertainment purposes and the events should not be construed as pure facts although the mentioned tangible objects exist.”
Then again, NICA probably missed that.
On Mon, Oct 18, the Senate held a hearing on the reported destructive mining operations and illegal excavations in Zambales.
Zambales is a province that is about a three- to five-hour drive from Manila.
Anyway, Senator Richard Gordon revealed that NICA — through Director General Rodolfo Arsaga, Jr. — tagged as confidential the satirical news article about a supposed Chinese military base in Zambales that contained underground military silos.
Arsaga was not present at the said hearing.
The title of the article is “Breaking Story: Hidden Chinese Military Base with Alleged Missile Silos Found in Zambales.” Apparently, it was printed out and labeled as an intelligence report by NICA.
“When we got this, there was a cover document, which said confidential,” Gordon said, holding the document. He added, “I was shocked. You’re taking it from the Internet and you’re taking it seriously. Fine. Did you verify? And they said they will do it.”
That said, the senators have sought a review of the NICA’s PHP700-million budget after the fiasco.
Then again, will that make any difference?
Because, really, what sort of person would believe a report written by someone named “Intel Guru”?
In a GMA News Online report, Gordon was quoted as saying, “The Senate blue ribbon committee is not gonna get fooled. That’s why we’re gonna bring (Arsaga) back here and ask him why he should not be cited for contempt.”
Still exasperated over what had transpired, Gordon declared, “It’s amazing. I mean, if that’s the state of intelligence we have in this country, maybe we really are in trouble.”
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