Manila, July 14 -- Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday filed a bill seeking to expand the scope of the country's anti-wiretapping law to intensify efforts to fight crimes.

The proposed measure, titled An Act Expanding the Scope and Coverage of Republic Act No. 4200, aims to allow wiretapping -with court authorization- for the following crimes like coup d'etat, conspiracy or proposal to commit coup d'etat, robbery in band, highway robbery, violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165), and violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (RA 9160).

In pushing this measure, Lacson said wiretapping has proven effective in combating "exceptional" crimes that threaten national security and public safety. However, the present laws see...