Libanan explains why cybercrime experts are needed in NAIA glitch probe

Cybercrime experts from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should lend a hand in the House of Representatives' impending investigation on the disastrous power outage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last week.

Thus, said House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan on Sunday, Jan. 8.

“If we want to be thorough in our investigation of unexpected critical system breakdowns, we have to call in a panel of specialists, including experts from the NBI’s cybercrime division, if only to rule out potential cyberattacks, sabotage, or other kinds of malicious activity,” Libanan said.

The Visayas solon's remarks came ahead of the House Committee on Transportation’s Jan. 10 briefing into the sudden failure of NAIA’s air traffic system that caused over 300 flights to be cancelled, diverted, or delayed, and displaced over 65,000 passengers.

“In the future, for example, if the national power grid system unexpectedly crashes and triggers a massive blackout, we should also bring in NBI experts, among other resource persons, to help in the investigation,” Libanan said.

He also urged the NBI “to build up its staff proficiency and operational readiness” to launch its own investigations into critical system breakdowns.

“This way, Congress does not have to investigate every critical system crash,” the legislator from 4Ps Party-list explained.

The NBI should brace aggressively for the future, considering that cyberattacks clearly pose a growing threat, according to Libanan.

The embarrassing NAIA incident last Jan. 1 set off further flight disorders in the succeeding days as airlines scrambled to launch recovery flights for affected passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) had initially attributed the failure of NAIA’s Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) to a busted uninterruptible power supply (UPS) equipment.

Antipolo 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop, chairman of the transportation panel, had earlier clarified that the Jan. 10 briefing isn't a full-blown inquiry, although officials of CAAP; NAIA operator, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) were invited to attend.

But Acop and San Jose del Monte City lone district Rep. Florida Robes, chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, have already filed resolutions calling for a proper investigation in aid of legislation about the matter.

The House is still on holiday recess.