Senator Dick Gordon has filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry regarding the unabated commission of cybertheft against the public.
Gordon, the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee chairman, said in Senate Resolution (SR) 987 that the Upper Chamber must investigate the rising cases of diminishing money from bank accounts of government employees.
“The Senate must spearhead an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on strengthening existing pertinent legislation on cybersecurity.”
“The Senate must spearhead an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on strengthening existing pertinent legislation on cybersecurity in close cooperation with law enforcement… to adequately protect the Filipino people, particularly those most vulnerable and the financial security of their persons and families essentially relying on our collective cybersecurity,” the veteran legislator said.
Recent reports stated an alarming increase in complaints from Dept. of Education employees about unauthorized withdrawals from their payroll accounts in Land Bank of the Philippines.
Teaching and non-teaching personnel alike said that their hard-earned money was being reduced, while disputing that they were victims of a so-called “phishing” scam.
Phishing is defined as the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers.
Benjo Basas, Teachers’ Dignity Coalition chair, said in an interview that 20 teachers and DepEd personnel reported unauthorized transactions in their Land Bank accounts, with the amount of money lost ranging from P160,000 to P200,000.
“The state must serve and protect the Filipino people now that criminals are using technology to pilfer from the people’s savings.”
The seasoned lawmaker said that the state must serve and protect the Filipino people now that criminals are using technology to pilfer from the people’s savings.
“The Senate is compelled to act on the vicious commission of cybercrimes against the Filipino people, particularly against teachers and other public servants, private employees, and businesses taking away their hard-earned savings, violating their financial security, assaulting their cybersecurity, and disregarding their rights,” the senator mentioned.
He also cited the Cybercrime Prevention Act, which states that there is a need to protect and safeguard the integrity of computer and computer systems, networks, and databases from misuse, abuse, and illegal access.
The trade department’s Consumer Protection Group has reported that there has been a shocking surge in the number of online transaction complaints, with 10,323 complaints in the first half of 2020.
It may be recalled that Gordon warned similar incidents against Social Security Service (SSS) members who have been victimized in similar fashion.
