(PNA file photo)
MANILA – A total of 21,300, that’s how many crimes were perpetrated over the Internet or via cell phones in 2023. It’s a sharp rise from 13,890 in 2022, prompting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to address the problem head-on and hands-on.
He could not stand idly while cybercriminals perpetrated 15,937 online scams and stole the identities of 2,384 innocent Filipinos.
So at the Philippine National Police Command Conference on Feb. 15, 2024, President Marcos directed the PNP to shape up, arm themselves and ramp up their efforts at fighting and preventing cybercrimes,
Technology vs. technology: Cutting-edge cyber defense
Cybercrime is all about technology. Unscrupulous individuals and syndicates are exploiting the advances in digital technology to ply their illegal trade online, preying on innocent people.
Sadly, technology is evolving faster than many can keep up, and the consequences are serious. It’s a reminder that as technology advances, so must our efforts multiply to keep everyone safe online.
For law enforcement, this isn’t just a challenge —it’s a call to action. To protect citizens, they must stay ahead of cybercriminals, who are constantly adapting and finding new ways to exploit the digital world.
That means the PNP needs the technology to fight cybercrime.
The PNP proposed the establishment of a Cybersecurity Center, which would focus on monitoring, detection, protection, mitigation, and response to cybersecurity incidents within the PNP’s ICT infrastructure.
“So, we have to build our cybercrime unit from scratch. Now, we need experts to do this. Magaling ang Pinoy (Filipinos are good). So, for whatever reason, magaling ang Pinoy sa IT, we seem to have a talent for it,” President Marcos told the PNP, expressing confidence in the country’s IT expertise.
“We will build cutting-edge cyber defenses and we will strengthen the Anti-Cybercrime Group’s cybersecurity infrastructure by adopting advanced technologies and strategies,” said Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang, Chief Director of the PNP-ACG.
Speaking before members of the ACG last December, Director Yang outlined his bold vision for the nation’s cyber defense, saying the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure is about to undergo a major transformation.
Among other initiatives, the PNP-ACG will invest in state-of-the-art security tools, threat detection systems, and world-class training for our personnel, he said, emphasizing his commitment to taking the group’s capabilities to new heights.
At the heart of his vision is a practical, methodical approach to tackling urgent cyber crises. A key element of this strategy is the formation of specialized cyber-response teams designed to coordinate swift, effective actions when threats emerge.
“This involves creating dedicated cyber-response teams, establishing clear protocols, and enhancing the capacity to handle real-time cyber threats and incidents, minimizing damage and recovery time,” Director Yang said.
He wants to improve efficiency and communication and create a new internal communications team. This team will help make workflows easier and ensure important messages get to everyone fast. That includes people from the ACG’s different divisions, regional offices, and national headquarters.
P500 million for IT build-up
However, getting its cybercrime unit up and running requires resources to build the PNP’s IT infrastructure. So, President Marcos shifted PhP500 million of the PNP’s intelligence funds to its IT program to bolster the police force’s technological capacity and skills to fight cybercrimes.
Congress had significantly reduced the 2025 budget for the PNP IT Program, but President Marcos saw the need to restore the cuts to underscore the government’s commitment to strengthening the PNP’s technological capabilities in the face of growing digital challenges.
Progress in combating online scams
Limitations or no limitations, the PNP-ACG still made some dent in online scams in early 2024. While 2023 saw a steep rise in online scams to 1,045 in January 2023 alone, the first month of 2024 saw a 40-percent drop to 421.
The PNP attributed this to ongoing reforms within the PNP’s approach to cybercrime, which include expanding its cybersecurity expertise and enhancing the overall capacity of its personnel.
Setting up Cybercrime Desks at police stations also helped, as this enables quick action when victims go to police stations to report crimes and seek police assistance. The presence of Cybercrime Desks encourages victims to go to the police. (PNA)
