PNP ramps up cybersecurity efforts

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. ordered the Anti-Cybercrime Group to boost cybersecurity down to police stations, especially with the recent series of hacking on government websites.

PNP Information chief and spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the databases of the PNP's Forensic Group like DNA, Combined DNA Index System, Integrated Ballistics Identification System and Automated Fingerprint Identification System are all intact following reports of alleged hacking of its system.

"During the command conference, one of the issues tackled by ACG and the chief PNP also has an instruction there to strengthen our cyber security of all PNP offices from here to the national headquarters down to police stations so our ACG is being looked at in coordination with ITMS (Information Technology Management Service) was the issue of the reported breach in the Forensic Group and right now the ACG is investigating that to determine if the alleged data that came out would somehow compromise the integrity of the Forensic Group's data system particularly the DNA data their system," Fajardo told reporters in a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The PNP likewise said that its Forensic Group is taking steps to investigate the incident.

"Upon learning about this issue, we immediately activated our Data Breach Response Team to swiftly address the matter. The Forensic Group is working closely with the PNP ITMS (Information Technology Management Service) and ACG to ensure that this issue is given the utmost attention it deserves," PNP said in a separate statement.

Fajardo also said the recruitment portal of the PNP Recruitment and Selection Service, was determined that there was no breach but nevertheless, the instruction of the chief PNP is to strengthen cybersecurity as the ITMS personnel who are now going around offices to conduct vulnerability tests.

"The vulnerability test to determine whether our systems, particularly those connected with the internet, have the vulnerability to any attack, so we strengthen not only the hardware but also our software. Our trained IT personnel now have dedicated ones who are going around now to check our systems," she explained.

She added the PNP ACG is more than willing to provide technical assistance to help them in investigating possible breaches in other government agencies.

The series of hacking incidents started with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation where the hackers gained access to its online systems and demanded $300,000 in exchange for not leaking the personal data they have acquired.

The Philippine Statistics Authority has also announced that its Community-Based Monitoring System, which contained personal and sensitive personal information, was accessed by hackers.