Malacañang is expecting a surge in cybercrime incidents at the height of the campaign period leading to the 2025 mid-term elections.
The Palace also believes that cyberattacks are starting to have an effect in the country, prompting President Marcos to include cyber security efforts in his directives to newly-appointed Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda.
"Actually, sabi nga po natin ha, iyong cyber attacks po talaga ay nakikita na po, mayroong epekto na po sa bansa (Actually, as what we have said, we are seeing that cyber attacks are starting to have an effect to the country)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing on Friday, March 28.
"Kaya ang unang-una po ang direktiba po ng Pangulo sa bagong appointed na DICT Secretary ay unang-una po ang programa po ng administrasyon patungkol po sa digitalization, pati po iyong internet connectivity across the country and of course cyber security ang kailangan nating pagtuunan lalung-lalo na po sa ngayong panahon na mayroong pangangampanya at campaign period (That's why one of the first directives of the President to the newly-appointed DICT secretary was about digitalization, internet connectivity across the country, and of course, cyber security which needs to be prioritized especially during the campaign period)," Castro added.
According to the Palace official, the DICT, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and other agencies are teaming up to fight fake news, including those peddled by troll farms.
In a Palace briefing on Thursday, Castro also said that the government is taking proactive measures to combat the rise in cyberattacks against the country’s financial institutions.
Castro requested that banks and financial institutions revise their internal policies on online transactions and operations to protect against potential cyberattacks.
She also urged the financial sector to create infomercials and awareness campaigns to educate the public on preventing scams and cybercrimes.