FILE PHOTO: Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution urging the Senate committee on national defense and security to lead an investigation of foreign cyberattacks against Philippine agencies. (Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution urging the chamber’s committee on national defense and security to lead an investigation of foreign cyberattacks against Philippine agencies.
Hontiveros’ proposed Senate Resolution No. 923 was filed after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) disclosed that it blocked cyberattacks on the websites of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippine Coast Guard, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Cyberattack perpetrators have yet to be unmasked, but DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy specifically said on Saturday that the intrusion that targeted OWWA’s website was traced to an undisclosed location in China.
“Considering the possibility that malware has been installed on Philippine critical defense networks for the purpose of long-term surveillance, these recent cyber-intrusions threaten to compromise resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, the security of the Philippine Armed Forces personnel stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, and wider Philippine national interests in the West Philippine Sea,” Hontiveros underscored in her resolution.
In a separate statement issued on Monday, the opposition senator urged her fellow lawmakers to focus their energy and attention on crafting and strengthening legislation for national security.
“This is a major cyberattack. While we are all busy cleaning up the mess of the sham ‘People’s Initiative,’ China has taken advantage of the current instability in the country to strike at our vulnerabilities,” Hontiveros said.
“This should be the focus, not the fake initiatives that only confuse Filipinos,” she said in Filipino.
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“Tama na ang Charter change, Tsina ang mas malaking problema. Let us stop wasting time on changing the Constitution. Unahin na natin ang mga problema sa ekonomiya at ang napakalaking banta na dala ng Tsina,” the senator added.
(Enough of Charter change. China is the bigger problem. Let us stop wasting time on changing the Constitution. Let’s first address the economic issues and the enormous threat China poses.)