Amid rising reports of illegal activities involving Filipino users, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Council (CICC) are eyeing a possible ban on messaging platform Telegram in the Philippines.

In a statement issued Thursday, February 26, the DICT and its attached agency, the CICC, said they are closely monitoring Telegram’s usage, with officials warning that a ban remains possible if cooperation fails.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said Telegram is currently “under observation” due to its alleged use in online gambling, scams, piracy, illegal drug trade, and the online sexual exploitation and abuse of children (OSAEC).

“Ang usapin ng online sexual exploitation and abuse of children ay non-negotiable (The issue of OSAEC is non-negotiable),” Aguda said.

“Kapag nagpatuloy ang ganitong uri ng mga aktibidad at walang pakikipagtulungan mula sa mga platform, hindi kami mag-aatubiling irekomenda ang pag-block sa kanila (If these kinds of activities continue and platforms fail to cooperate, we will not hesitate to recommend blocking them),” he added, noting that the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is clear: eliminate the social harm brought by technology.

Authorities said one of the major challenges in pursuing cybercriminals on Telegram is the absence of a physical office in the Philippines, making coordination and investigations more difficult.

CICC Executive Director and Undersecretary Renato Paraiso emphasized the need for direct coordination with platform representatives to obtain information on suspects involved in online prostitution, scams, and other illegal schemes.

"Kapag nagamit ang plataporma nila for exploitation, kailangan malaman namin kung sino ang gumagawa nito (When their platform is used for exploitation, we need to know who is behind it),” Paraiso said.

“Upang magawa iyon, kailangan mayroon silang opisina rito o may direktang nakakausap kami (To make that possible, they must have an office here or someone we can directly talk to),” he said.

“Hindi pwedeng maging kanlungan ng mga kriminal ang isang app dahil lamang sa kawalan ng koordinasyon (An app cannot be a refuge for criminals simply because of a lack of coordination),” he added.

Despite the serious concerns, both the DICT and the CICC clarified that banning Telegram remains a “last resort,” with the government still prioritizing cooperation with technology companies to address illegal activities.

Officials said stronger accountability mechanisms and faster responses to law enforcement requests are key to ensuring digital platforms are not misused.

The agencies also urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities online.

Under Aguda’s leadership, authorities reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing cybercrime laws and ensuring that Filipinos remain safe and protected in the digital space.