The Philippine Army (PA) kicked off a two-day cyber defense exercise on Saturday, March 8, in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City to transform foot soldiers into highly-skilled defenders of the cyberspace.
PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the "Cyber Defense Exercise 2025" involved 20 teams, each consisting of four members representing various universities and potential affiliate reserve units, who competed against each other to solve various cyber defense scenarios.
The exercise “offers participants a dynamic platform to translate their theoretical knowledge into real-world applications, nurturing collaboration, critical thinking, and effective problem-solving in the ever-evolving field of cyber defense,” said Dema-ala.
Two weeks ago, the Army’s system was infiltrated by suspected hackers who attempted to illegally obtain military data. Fortunately, the group behind the cyber intrusion was prevented by the Army. The PA did not identify the group but said their cyber investigators already know their members and their internet protocol (IP) addresses.
The same group also tried to breach the mail system of the Philippine Navy (PN).
Through the cyber exercise, Dema-ala reiterated the Army’s commitment to fostering the development of their soldiers’ expertise in the vital domain.
He said it also reinforces the country's capacity to protect against emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities.