Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) is stepping up its campaign against online threats following a sharp increase in the number of Filipino families reporting cybercrime victimization. 'Our ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group) and concerned regional units have been intensifying cybercrime prevention, investigation, and public awareness efforts, particularly against online scams, account hacking, and other schemes targeting our communities,' PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.
According to Philippines News Agency, the directive came after the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from June 20 to 29 among 1,200 adults nationwide showed that cybercrime victimization among Filipino families reached 8 percent in June, up from 5.8 percent in March. The increase was recorded in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, while Balance Luzon posted a slight decline.
Nartatez ordered stronger coordination with partner agencies and faster action on complaints as the police force seeks to prevent cybercrime from gaining further ground. 'We must strengthen coordination with our partners and ensure that complaints are acted upon promptly,' he said.
On the other hand, the SWS survey showed a different trend in traditional crimes as common-crime victimization nationwide declined to 10 percent in June from 12.3 percent in March. Reports of street robbery, break-ins, carnapping, and physical violence all decreased.
'The public can be assured that the PNP remains committed to protecting them not only in the physical environment but also in cyberspace,' Nartatez said. 'We urge everyone to remain vigilant, verify online transactions, protect their personal information, and immediately report suspicious activities. We will continue to pursue cybercriminals and hold them accountable,' he added.
Nartatez said the figures are encouraging while also underscoring the need to sustain police presence and remain responsive to concerns being felt by communities. 'We take the improvement as encouragement, but not as a reason to become complacent. The important thing is to understand what the numbers are telling us and translate that into better police work. Kung may mga stratehiya na gumagana at epektibo, we sustain them; kung may kailangang baguhin (If there are strategies that work and are effective, we sustain them; if there are changes that need to be made), we act on them,' he said.
