The Philippine Transportation and Communication Advocates (PTCA), a prominent advocate group against fake news and digital fraud, has welcomed the recent signing of a joint circular between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against cybercrime.
In response to this collaborative effort by the two government agencies, the PTCA expressed its approval, emphasizing the timeliness of this development given the increasing incidence of cybercrime in the country.
According to PTCA Chief Aio Bautista, “This is a highly positive step that will bolster our mission to eliminate digital fraud and the spread of fake news. We believe that this joint circular will empower the DOJ to enlist additional prosecutors to handle the growing number of cybercrime cases.”
Bautista stressed the importance of swiftly resolving these cases, especially in the wake of recent cyberattacks on the country’s health insurer, PhilHealth.
“Swiftly apprehending cybercriminals is crucial, but prosecuting them is equally vital. Rigorous prosecution of these cybercriminals will undoubtedly send a powerful message about their malicious activities,” Bautista said.
Bautista also emphasized that the time to take action against cybercriminals is now.
The collaborative circular grants the DOJ the authority to hire an additional 1,073 prosecutors and 364 prosecution lawyers to address the increasing number of cybercrime cases.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Boying Remulla highlighted the need for this expansion, stating, “To effectively combat the evolving criminal landscape, we must deploy more public prosecutors with a deep understanding of legal complexities, digital forensics, and investigative techniques.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) reported that they handled 16,297 cybercrime cases from January to August 2023 alone.
In July, PNP-ACG noted a significant surge in cybercrime incidents in Metro Manila, rising from 2,477 cases the previous year to 6,250.
ACG director Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia drew attention to the prevalence of the “click the link” scam, where victims unwittingly provide scammers access to their bank details by clicking on malicious links.
Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, established the Office of Cybercrime (OOC) within the DOJ, designating it as the central authority for international mutual assistance and extradition related to cybercrime matters.
The OOC is responsible for formulating and implementing law enforcement strategies to combat cybercrime and cyber-related offenses nationwide. (ai/mnm)
