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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider Globe turns over IMSI Catcher detectors over to the NTC, CICC, CIDG to help fight mobile scams

Globe turns over IMSI Catcher detectors over to the NTC, CICC, CIDG to help fight mobile scams

Published Mar 24, 2026 06:25 pm
Globe executives (from left) Yoly Crisanto, chief sustainability and corporate communications Officer; Anton Bonifacio, chief AI officer and chief information security officer; and Atty. Froi Castelo, group general counsel, lead the turnover of IMSI Catcher Detectors to government partners PCOL Joselito G. Esico, chief of staff, PNP-CIDG; Atty. Ella Lopez, commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC); and Usec. Renato Paraiso, executive director, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). Joining the ceremony are Director Alvin Navarro of the CICC, Director Rodil Aniban of the DICT Cyber Security Bureau, and Deputy Commissioner Andy Castelar of the NTC.
Globe executives (from left) Yoly Crisanto, chief sustainability and corporate communications Officer; Anton Bonifacio, chief AI officer and chief information security officer; and Atty. Froi Castelo, group general counsel, lead the turnover of IMSI Catcher Detectors to government partners PCOL Joselito G. Esico, chief of staff, PNP-CIDG; Atty. Ella Lopez, commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC); and Usec. Renato Paraiso, executive director, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). Joining the ceremony are Director Alvin Navarro of the CICC, Director Rodil Aniban of the DICT Cyber Security Bureau, and Deputy Commissioner Andy Castelar of the NTC.
Globe has turned over IMSI Catcher detectors over to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), to ramp up the effort to fight mobile scams in the country.
IMSI Catchers is an illegal infrastructure that hijacks a mobile device's cell signal, allowing hackers to send phishing messages and messages with malicious links to infect devices from seemingly legitimate sources. Think about those times when receiving a message from your bank and the bank's name is listed instead of some random number.
The IMSI catcher detectors will enable the NTC, CICC, and CIDG to identify and locate fake base stations in real time, significantly improving response speed and enforcement actions. Authorities will be able to monitor and take action in high-risk and populated areas.
“The threats we are seeing today operate at a deeper level, and addressing them requires stronger systems and closer coordination,” said Froilan Castelo, group general counsel, Globe. “We see it as our responsibility not only to provide connectivity, but to make sure that it remains safe and secure for every Filipino who relies on it.”
“What this initiative enables is visibility where it matters most,” said Anton Bonifacio, chief AI officer and chief information security officer, Globe. “By detecting unauthorized signal activity, we can support faster investigation and response, which is critical in addressing threats like fake base stations.”
Globe boasts in being the first telecom company to block SMS with clickable links within its network. However, this works if the hackers are sending through regular SMS. IMSI Catchers would identify the mobile device itself, bringing down to a lower standard, such as 2G, and send the message there directly. So vigilance is required at all times. However, it should be noted that Globe has also launched the SMS Scam Shield on the GlobeOne app. Globe says this shields users from spoofed sender IDs and phishing attacks.
Globe has cautioned users for any moments when cell signals suddenly disappear or when your LTE or 5G network suddenly becomes 2G.
“Every scam message is not just a digital threat. It affects real people, their finances, their safety, and their peace of mind,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe chief sustainability and corporate communications officer. “That is why efforts like this matter. It strengthens our ability to detect threats earlier, respond faster, and most importantly, protect Filipinos in a more coordinated way.”
The initiative brings together Globe, NTC, CICC, and CIDG, reinforcing a whole-of-nation approach to addressing increasingly sophisticated mobile-based threats. As mobile connectivity continues to play a central role in everyday life, Globe reaffirms its shared commitment to safeguarding the country’s digital ecosystem and ensuring that Filipinos can stay connected with confidence.

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GLOBE Scam National Telecommunications Commission DICT CICC CIDG
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