The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ramped up its digital defense operations in anticipation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), aiming to counter potential hacking attempts, fake news drives, and online fraud.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. instructed officers—specifically those within the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG)—to heighten their digital surveillance.
Their mandate covers monitoring false information, pinpointing organized influence campaigns, and thwarting phishing operations and scams aimed at taking advantage of the national event.
“Our primary concerns are cyberattacks against critical information infrastructure, the spread of misinformation and coordinated influence operations, and online scams that exploit public interest in the SONA,” said Nartatez.
“We are closely monitoring the cyber landscape and are prepared to respond to threats in coordination with our partner agencies,” he added.
A previously published Cybersecurity Advisory from the police force highlighted three core focus areas for SONA 2026: safeguarding Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), neutralizing disinformation campaigns, and stopping social engineering tactics alongside internet scams.
Per the guidelines, these actions seek to fortify government networks, maintain public trust in news, and protect citizens against cyber threats surrounding the President’s speech at the Batasang Pambansa on July 27.
“Cybersecurity is now as important as physical security during major national events. Protecting digital systems, ensuring the integrity of information, and safeguarding the public from online threats are essential to maintaining public order and confidence throughout the SONA,” said Nartatez.
These digital safeguards tie into the PNP’s overall safety blueprint for the event, which also features the deployment of over 20,000 National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) personnel to secure the area and manage crowds, traffic, and rallies.