The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Monday, Oct. 2, urged the public to be vigilant and exercise caution when encountering malicious content on the internet and social media platforms.
This was the call made by the state health insurer as it raised concerns about the release of any distorted information, fabricated lies and black propaganda after its system was attacked by Medusa ransomware on Sept. 22.
In a press conference, PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. also called on media to assist in cautioning the public about the potential risks associated with any malicious content that could be released by the attackers of the agency’s system.
Ledesma said that the attackers were expected to share information they may have obtained from the agency on the web and social media.
He also advised the public against engaging with or sharing this information and encouraged them to report sensitive content found online or on social media platforms to PhilHealth and the Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT) using the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].
This, even as PhilHealth reassured the public that it was actively working to restore its various systems, including the Health Care Institution (HCI) Portal and application servers, following comprehensive security testing.
As of Sept. 29, the corporate website, member portal, and e-Claims were back online.
“We are aware that the disruption (has) caused inconvenience to our members and stakeholders," Ledesma said.
"To mitigate the impact, we immediately issued announcements and advisories on interim arrangements to ensure continuity of essential services, particularly member benefits," he added.
Ledesma also emphasized PhilHealth's “unwavering commitment to safeguarding our members' privacy and information.”
The agency also disclosed ongoing investigations in cooperation with the DICT, National Privacy Commission (NPC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Philippine National Police (PNP).
It also highlighted that PhilHealth was fully committed to supporting these agencies in uncovering the truth and holding those responsible accountable.
Ledesma also urged other groups and sectors to refrain from disseminating false or misleading information to prevent panic and distrust, and encouraged those with pertinent information to cooperate with the authorities in their efforts to address this situation. (Zekinah Elize Espina)