The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has identified persons of interest among its personnel, who may be behind various cyberattacks against the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda confirmed the report in an interview on Dos Por Dos Thursday morning, adding that the issue is currently being probed by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

It was alleged that the said employees were found to be hackers following an extensive internal audit Aguda ordered upon assuming his position. As of the interview, Aguda is collecting more evidence for a possible case against these employees.

“Kino-kolektahan na namin ng ebidensya … Sineryoso po namin yan (intel),” Aguda said.

(We are collecting evidence for that. We took the intel seriously. We, the DICT, should not be safeguarding cybersecurity when we’re lenient when it comes to hiring people. We should be hiring those who will do well.)

It was reported on MBC TV Network News that, according to a trusted source, among the suspects being probed are two undersecretaries. One of them reportedly hired three local hackers connected to a corporation, contracting them to serve as consultants for the DICT.

The hacking scheme carried out by the three ostensibly resembled earlier cyberattacks against the DOTr, PNP, and NTC.

“Mas maganda po, lumabas ‘yung actual facts … Lahat po, pinaa-analyze po natin ‘yan,” Aguda said.

In March this year, the DICT declared it had preempted an estimated 5.4 million cyberattacks against 32 government agencies, during a notable upswing in cybersecurity threats.