Philippines, Canada deepen cyber defense ties amid rising threats

The Department of National Defense on Thursday reported that Undersecretary Angelito M. De Leon, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Undersecretary for Information Systems and Cybersecurity, met with Canada’s Senior Official for Cyber Security, Sami Khoury of the Communications Security Establishment, on 18 February at Camp Aguinaldo to further strengthen collaboration in the cyber and information domains.

The engagement builds on the growing defense partnership between the Philippines and Canada, highlighted by the signing of the Philippines–Canada Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in November 2025.

During the meeting, De Leon cited previous cyber engagements and expressed appreciation for Canada’s continued collaboration. He also conveyed the DND’s interest in learning from Canada’s best practices in cyber governance, operational coordination and resilience-building mechanisms to enhance national cyber capabilities.

Discussions focused on key areas of convergence, including the regular exchange of strategic cyber threat intelligence, updates on evolving cyber threats, and institutionalizing joint training programs and professional exchanges.

The officials also discussed sustaining cooperation through the regular convening of an Annual Philippines–Canada Cyber Working Group to ensure continuity, alignment of priorities and measurable outcomes. Both sides highlighted collaboration in regional and international platforms, including ASEAN initiatives, to promote a secure, open, interoperable and rules-based cyberspace.

Khoury previously visited the DND on 9 March 2025 as part of a Canadian delegation led by Ambassador David Hartman to advance bilateral cyber cooperation and capacity-building efforts.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday warned that cyber threats against the Philippines from China-based actors are intensifying in 2026 due to geopolitical tensions.

AFP Cyber Command chief Brig. Gen. Joey Fontiveros said the Philippines faces persistent cyber attacks linked to territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

“The country's cybersecurity landscape in 2026 is characterized by escalating threats driven by geopolitical tensions, rapid digital transformation and a sophisticated adversary environment, particularly from state-sponsored actors,” Fontiveros said.

“From a security and defense viewpoint, the country faces persistent cyber attacks linked to territorial disputes in the WPS with China-based malicious actors deploying malware, DDOS attacks, data leaks and website compromises to advance Beijing's regional ambition,” he added.

Fontiveros said the intensifying threats contribute to a broader global risk profile where misinformation, disinformation and cyber insecurity rank among the top short- and long-term concerns.

High-risk sectors include public administration, which accounted for more than 20 percent of dark web threats, followed by educational services at 14.8 percent and the finance and insurance sector at 10.1 percent, he said. Common tactics involve ransomware, phishing and access sales, with law enforcement reporting a 37 percent increase in online threats and a 200 percent rise in phishing incidents.

Fontiveros said the Philippines has detected foreign attempts to access intelligence data, though no major breaches have been confirmed. He underscored vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, including healthcare, transportation and power grids.

“Government responses include the National Cyber Security Plan, which emphasizes advanced threat assessment, capacity building and closing skills gaps to bolster resilience,” he said.

“Overall, the landscape demands a shift from reactive to proactive defenses, integrating AI powered detection and multilateral cooperation to counter hybrid threats in a digitally interconnected region,” he added.