Aquino to DFA: Clean ranks amid data breach

Sen. Bam Aquino. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Bam Aquino hopes that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would “clean its ranks” following the passport data breach that happened.

According to Aquino, the controversy surrounding the department is a “big concern” as he said that it could lead to negative scenarios.

“It’s a big concern. Sa buong mundo iyong data privacy ay napakahalaga and meron po tayong mga batas pagdating sa data privacy,” Aquino said in an interview after an election-related event at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Sunday.

“At yang pagkuha ng numbers natin, ng ating address, ng ating birth certificate, marami talagang possibleng masamang mangyare dahil diyan,” he added.

DFA Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. on Saturday disclosed via a Twitter post that a previously outsourced passport maker has taken all passport applicants’ data after its contract was terminated.

Locsin said the breach started under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now House Speaker, and “got worse” under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

With the issue at the DFA, Aquino said that he hopes that the department would take the lead to solve the data breach.

“I hope, the DFA can take the lead, linisin nila yung kanilang rango and possibly in the Senate, pwede rin naming imbestigahan yan,” Aquino said.

“Makita natin na yung mga taong nagkakasala, dapat makulong at masigurado natin na walang lumabag sa data privacy act,” he added.

Locsin already vowed to solve the issue on the privacy of the public’s data following the breach. /cbb

READ: Teodoro Locsin Jr. probing passport data breach