The Senate will be investigating the recent cyberattacks, which are believed to be perpetuated by the People's Republic of China (PRC), against several government agencies.
This was in response to a report released by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on February 3, indicating that hackers were purportedly from the PRC and may have had cooperation from the Chinese Communist Party-led government.
Under Senate Resolution No. 923 issued on Tuesday, February 6, Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security to investigate the said hacking.
The cyberattacks have affected several government agencies, including:
- Philippine Coast Guard
- Office of the Cabinet Secretary
- Department of Justice
- National Coast Watch System
- The House of Representatives
- DICT
The DICT said several domains were also targeted, including the personal website of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
According to the agency, three Chinese state-sponsored cyber intrusion groups were the suspects behind the hacking classified as Advanced Personal Threats (APTs): Lonely Islan, Meandern, and Panda.
Citing reports from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hontiveros' resolution stated that the PRC state-sponsored cyber activities continue to target government and critical infrastructure networks with an increasing array of new and adaptive techniques, some of which pose significant risks to defense sector networks.
"Habang nagsasayang tayo ng oras para pag-usapan ang Charter Change, ang Tsina hindi tumitigil sa panghihimasok sa ating bansa," she said in a statement.
"Imbes na ang enerhiya natin ay mapunta sa pagpapalakas ng mga batas para sa ating pambansang seguridad, nag-aaksaya tayo ng panahon para sa interes ng iilan," the Senator furthered.
