Risa seeks probe on data breaches

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday asked the Senate to investigate a series hacking attacks and data breaches involving government agencies.

In a resolution filed Monday, Hontiveros said she also wants the Senate to look into the sufficiency of prevailing cybersecurity measures in the government, and its preparedness for cyberattacks.

The latest victim of hacking was the House of Representative, whose website showed a drawing of a troll taunting: “You’ve been hacked,” “Have a Nice Day,” and an admonition: “Happy April Fullz kahit October pa lang, Fix your website.”

Before that, hackers obtained copies of databases of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and threatened to expose them unless they were paid a ransom of $300,000. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also admitted that its system may have been hacked.

Hontiveros said the breach of personal and sensitive information kept by government agencies endangers the safety and security of all Filipinos.

“It leaves us even more vulnerable to increasingly nefarious schemes involving text spams, online scams, phishing, financial fraud, extortion, blackmail and identity theft,” she said.

In the wake of attacks on its website, the House wants to increase the budget allocation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to combat the series of cybersecurity attacks.

“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,” said Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, who chairs the House committee on appropriations.

“For the continuing ransomware attacks, we convey to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the urgent need for additional funds for the DICT and for government agencies being attacked…,” Co said.

The House appropriations committee chairperson said additional resources can also be drawn from the unprogrammed fund of the 2023 national budget.

This refers to budget items which will only be funded if there is an excess of targeted government revenues for the year, subject to the approval of the DBM.

Co said the use of savings can also