‘Stop the ‘hacking spree,’ Poe tells DICT, other gov’t agencies

Senator Grace Poe (File photo from Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Monday asked the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and other agencies concerned to put an end to the “hacking spree” of government websites.

Poe, chairperson of Senate committee on public services, made the call following a series of data breaches suffered by the websites of several Philippine government offices.

The websites are the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the Department of Science and Technology, and Philippine Statistics Authority.

The most recent attack was made against the website of House of Representatives on Sunday, October 15.

“The DICT and agencies concerned must put a halt to what is turning out to be a hacking spree of government websites,” said Poe in a statement.

“At stake are not only important government records, but sensitive data that could compromise the country’s security,” the senator added.

According to Poe, data breaches not only place vital government information at stake but also “jeopardize personal information of the people whose accounts may be subjected to unwanted exposures.”

To prevent cyberattacks from happening, Poe said the government should invest in solid cybersecurity infrastructure.

“Hindi pwedeng business as usual at maghintay na lang sa susunod na biktima ng data breach. Kailangan matigil ang hacking at mapanagot ang mga salarin,” she said.

(It cannot be business as usual and just wait for the next victim of a data breach. Hacking must be stopped, and the perpetrators held accountable.)

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