By Liza Soriano

Senator Koko Pimentel asserted that it is not necessary for the purchase of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) equipment to come from confidential funds.

According to Pimentel, the DICT should create a policy to fight cybercrime without the need for confidential funds.

“The DICT’s primary role is not criminal law enforcement. It is not. It may have but it is not the primary role,” the lawmaker said.

The DICT is one of those agencies whose confidential funds were stripped by the House of Representatives, where it has a proposal of P300 million.

DICT Secretary John Ivan Uy said earlier that he would appeal to the Senate to return the agency’s confidential funds.

However, Pimentel said, “If we push that logic, it’s absurd, extreme. Ang buong budget pala ng Philippine National Police puwede nilang sabihin confidential fund na.”

(ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

THE House of Representatives pushes for an additional budget for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for 2024 due to incessant cybersecurity attacks.

House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Elizaldy Co of Ako-Bicol party-list issued the statement after issues of hacking of the databases in government agencies such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Statistics Office and now the House of Representatives.

“We recognize the dire need of the DICT for resources to fight cybercrime and ransomware attacks. We will work with our colleagues in the Senate to look for more sources of funds for the DICT,” Co said.

“For the continuing ransomware attacks, we convey to the Department of Budget and Management the urgent need for additional funds for the DICT and for government agencies being attacked and vulnerable to cyberattack,” the lawmaker added.

The proposed budget of DICT for 2024 is P8.729 billion.

DICT was among the agencies whose confidential funds were removed.

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy said that it will appeal to Congress to grant the P300 million confidential funds.

Earlier, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said that DICT does not need confidential funds, saying that the department can tap cybersecurity experts of the National Bureau of Investigation for surveillance needs.

“We should maintain the zero allocation and…they can avail of the expert services of agencies who have their own confidential and intelligence funds,” said Lagamn in a report.

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

AS MILLIONS OF PHILHEATH (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) members were affected by the data breach in the system of the state insurer, this time the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) gave a confusing statement, saying that it was the Confucius group — not Medusa — that uploaded a copy of over 600 gigabytes of files.

The copy was reportedly uploaded to a website and a Telegram channel after 4 p.m. on October 5, two days after the deadline for a payment of about $300,000 or approximately P17 million, ransom expired.

DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said the hackers may sell the leaked information to scammers and phishers considering that the perpetrators were not able to get the money they asked for.

“They will try to monetize the information by selling to scammers, to phishers para gamitin ‘yung data nila (to use their data),” he said.

On the other hand, DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said their analysis showed that there were no remnants of the Medusa malware in the members’ database.

Uy further said that investigators are still trying to identify if the hackers are Filipinos or foreigners.

“Sa tingin ko naman ‘yung local hindi sila maglalakas loob dahil mahahabol natin sila. Nasa loob ng ating jurisdiction,” he quipped.

Earlier, a video of the leaked information showed photos, bank cards, and transaction receipts of the victims, among others.

The DICT said that although the transaction data of some PhilHealth members were leaked but it assured the members’ database was not affected by the cyberattack. (ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

NOTICING THAT MANY ONLINE SCAMS and cyber sex abuses come from other countries, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has justified its request for P300 million in confidential funds, saying it is crucial in the agency’s fight against scammers and cybercriminals.

DICT Secretary John Uy also disclosed that they are now coordinating with law enforcement agencies of those countries where cybercriminals operate to stop online financial crimes, as well as sexual abuses, especially those victimizing Filipino children.

“Many of these operators, they hide behind extra-territoriality because they feel if they operate from another country and the victims are not in that country but elsewhere, the law enforcers do not bother them,” Uy said on Tuesday, September 19, before the hearing of Senate finance committee.

Regarding online sexual abuses, Uy said the DICT informs the country where the perpetrators are located, and their law enforcers will track them down and seize the materials being used.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to make the world smaller for them by having exchanges with these countries,” he pointed out.

(ai/mnm)