PNP also being attacked by hackers, top cop tells senators

PNP Chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan. Image from his official Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Even the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also being attacked by hackers, its chief told senators on Thursday.

PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan made the disclosure during the Senate hearing on the proposed P190.5-billion budget of the police force for 2021.

“We have what you call the cyber patrol but to be frank with you, we are even being hacked by a lot of hackers,” Cascolan said in response to the queries of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

Revilla had asked the PNP regarding measures it is undertaking to address cyber attacks.

The senator cited reports on the “alarming” rate of cybercrimes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“On a global scale, maraming nabibiktima ang cyber criminals sa pamamagitan ng online scam, phishing, identity theft at fake news at misinformation,” Revilla said.

(Cyber criminals are victimizing a lot of people through online scam, phishing, identity theft and fake news and misinformation.)

“Hindi lang mga individual users ang nabibitikma, maging ang malalaking corporaton, mga pamahalaan, mga critical ay nabibiktima rin,” he added.

(Not only individuals are falling victims, even big corporations, authorities, those that are critical are also being victimized.)

Cascolan agreed with the concern raised by the senator.

“We deal with a lot of operations and accomplishments of PNP but there are still a lot of scammers and at the same time predators in cyberspace,” the PNP chief said.

Cascolan added that the police force, through its anti-cybercrime units, is “trying its best to fight” cybercrimes.

According to him, the PNP has conducted 214 operations from July 2019 to July 2020, which led to the arrest of 252 individuals and the rescue of seven minors.

One of those arrested by police, Cascolan said, is a Nigerian “who has amassed millions of pesos from Filipinos through romance scams.”

JPV