Globe Telecom Inc.’s mobile wallet unit GCash and PLDT Inc. have intensified their efforts to address rampant cybercrime incidents.
GCash in partnership with the Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) conducted a series of raids and arrests of alleged cybercriminals in the past months.
Perpetrators of various crimes like love scams and task scams were arrested, while subscriber identity module cards purportedly used for dubious purposes were seized.
The authorities are working on the arrest of the suspects linked to the illegal operations — a big win in the shared fight against scammers, fraudsters and other cyber criminals.
“GCash is supportive of the operations of the DOJ, NBI, and PNP-ACG in going after perpetrators. We are an active partner of our law enforcement agencies as we exchange technical knowledge and expertise on the latest cybersecurity measures,” said Maria Corazon PMR Alvarez-Adriano, GCash chief legal officer.
GCash said it is driving the passage of a bill that, among others, will criminalize the buying and selling of so-called mule accounts, which are used by criminals to hide their identities when transferring illicit money.
PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. remain committed to working closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to bolster the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure against cyberattacks.
During the Philippine Air Force’s Castle Siege 2 cybersecurity exercise that was also attended by other branches of the armed forces, the AFP Cyber Group, national agencies and the academe, Manuel Pangilinan, PLDT and Smart chairman, urged cybersecurity stakeholders to establish and improve communication lines.
“Whether it’s sharing threat intelligence, best practices, joint simulation exercises, we need to come together in order to protect our shared cyberspace together. The quality of attacks has leveled up in sophistication,” Pangilinan said.
In the first half of the year, the PLDT group thwarted more than 5.5 billion cyberattacks and attempts to breach its digital network.
As hackers develop more advanced tools, Pangilinan stressed the importance of upskilling cyber warriors. – Myla Iglesias
