MANILA - Senator Panfilo Lacson has filed a bill seeking to allow wiretapping against those involved in drug trade, money laundering, coups and other crimes that "pose a grave threat to our nation's security."

Lacon's Senate Bill 48 seeks to amend Republic Act 4200 to include certain crimes where wiretapping may be deemed lawful under certain circumstances.

"Wiretapping, though limited in its applications, has been an effective tool by our law enforcement agencies against criminal elements who have wreaked havoc, instability and lack of equanimity in our country to the detriment of many of our peace-loving citizens," Lacson said in a statement released Sunday.

He added that the Anti-Wiretapping Law should be revisited because it does not cover certain crimes "which put not only the lives and property of our people in paramount danger, but also pose a grave threat to our nation's security."

Lacson's bill seeks to add the following crimes to the list of offenses wherein law enforces may tap any device to secretly overhear, intercept, or record private communication:

- coup d'etat
- conspiracy and proposal to commit coup d'etat
- robbery in band
- brigandage/highway robbery
- violations of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
- violations of RA 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001

Under the present law, instances where wiretapping is allowed includes treason, espionage, provoking war and disloyalty in case of war, piracy, mutiny in the high seas, rebellion, conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion, inciting to rebellion, sedition, conspiracy to commit sedition, inciting to sedition, kidnapping and violations of Commonwealth Act No. 616, punishing espionage and other offenses against national security.

The Human Security Act of 2007 also included terrorism and conspiracy to commit terrorism to the list, provided it is with a written order from the Court of Appeals.