16 nabbed for hacking Globe Telecom system

MANILA, Philippines – Sixteen people, including several South Korean nationals, have been arrested by police for allegedly hacking into the Globe Telecom’s system to make unbilled international calls.

Director Samuel Pagdilao, Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said in a statement Tuesday that nine Koreans and several Filipino suspects have been apprehended through successive raids in Pasig, Manila, and Mandaluyong cities.

He said they belong to a cybercrime group that has been placed under police surveillance for several weeks.

The Koreans were identified as Eun Young Bae, Kwang Ming Song, 27, Junggyn Yang, 30, Kim Tae Hyung alias Martin Kim, Sehun Park, a certain Choi, Jong-Seok alias Edward Choi, Jung Dongchan alias Kevin Jeong, Jinwan Kim alias Liam Jin.

The other suspects were identified as Marcela Dela Paz, Chachin La Evidia Bornales, Christine Joy Gicale Carondoy alias Joya, 18, Joan Gicale Turno alias Queennie, 19, Jazzy Romero de la Cruz, 20, Jessa Grande Llaguno, 18, and Michelle Cambe Nacional, 26.

The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act No. 8484 or “Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998,” Pagdilao said.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, CIDG’s Anti-Transnational and Cyber Crime Division (AFCCD) Chief, said that Globe had complained about the alleged hacking being done by the suspects through International Simple Resale (ISR) of international calls.

“ISR is an illegal act in the country because it deprives government of unrealized revenues and to the prejudice of Globe Telecom, where unbilled international calls were being charged and rerouted as mere local calls,” Sosa said.

Authorities confiscated computers, network hubs, GSM Modems, and bundles of unused SIM cards of Globe and Touch Mobile that were used to hack into Globe’s networks.

Two vehicles—a black Hyundai Tucson and silver Toyota Camry have also been confiscated by authorities in the raids.

The separate raids were conducted in Tower A, Renaissance 3000 building, Meralco Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City, Pearl of the Orient Tower, Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, North Tower, Lee Garden Condominium, Laurel St. Mandaluyong City, and Royal Plaza, Twin Towers, Malate, Manila

Pagdilao said that “the arrests of Korean and Filipino suspects demonstrate the need for a tougher law to deal with new challenges in the fight against cybercrime.”

Last week, CIDG anti-fraud operatives have arrested Hak Mo Kim in Mandaluyong City for hacking into SMART Communications networks.