PNP to invest more on digital technology program to improve cops' skills vs cybercrime
The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to invest more on digital literacy program for its personnel to further improve their technical capability against cybercrimes, particularly on online financial fraud.
Acting PNP chief Lt Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said the move is intended not only to strengthen public protection against cybercrimes but also to provide police investigators with technical capability to investigate online financial fraud and other crimes committed in cyberspace.
“The level of aggressiveness we show to ensure peace and order on the streets and in the communities should be the same in cyberspace. The digital technology is evolving fast and that includes modus of cybercriminals,” said Nartatez.
“We must equip our personnel with the necessary skills not only to keep up but to be ahead of cybercriminals at all times. This is part of modern policing, and we must not be left behind,” he added.
The statement came following the successful operation of the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) that led to the arrest of eight individuals in a coordinated nationwide operation targeting the illegal online sale of e-wallet accounts in Quezon City, Davao Oriental, and Manila.
The suspects were reportedly engaged in the online sale of e-wallet accounts, an activity frequently associated with cyber fraud and digital scams.
Nartatez said the scale of these networks requires a more tech-savvy police force, as he highlighted that education is the ultimate deterrent against these kinds of operations.
He also emphasized the need to educate the netizens against cybercrimes,” Digital literacy is crucial in protecting citizens from online fraud. Simple precautions, like verifying the source of e-wallet offers and enabling two-factor authentication, can significantly reduce the risk of fraud.”
The PNP is also working closely with fintech companies and community groups to educate the public on safe online practices.
The collaboration will focus on public awareness campaigns, consumer education on safe borrowing, and identifying predatory lending schemes. Initiatives include information sharing, training programs, and workshops on evolving cyber threats.