The Philippine National Police (PNP) has joined forces with the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct an exhaustive investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal data belonging to field investigators.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. issued a stern warning regarding the breach, noting that the exposure of such information places the lives of the Ombudsman’s personnel in immediate peril.
The PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has been directed to lead the technical investigation to trace the source of the leak.
Addressing the severity of the situation, Nartatez stated:
“As an agency that is also involved in investigation and intelligence-gathering, we understand how serious this case is since this involves the safety of the concerned individuals.”
The PNP Chief further signaled a relentless pursuit of the perpetrators:
“We will look into this case with urgency and with a commitment to run after all those involved.”
The Office of the Ombudsman previously denounced the incident, labeling it a “malicious online disclosure” intended to undermine the integrity of their operations. In a formal statement, the office highlighted the tactical nature of the attack:
“This unauthorized leak is a blatant attempt to intimidate public servants and directly jeopardizes their personal safety.”
In coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), authorities are currently tracking the digital footprint of the attackers.
Legal experts noted that those found responsible will face the full weight of the law, specifically under the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Gen. Nartatez clarified that the scope of the investigation is broad, looking not only at external hackers but also at the potential for an “inside job” or internal security lapses within the Ombudsman’s office.
“I assure that appropriate charges will be filed against individuals behind this leak of information. The PNP also assures all government officials and employees that the police force is ready to protect them against all kinds of threats to their security,” Nartatez concluded.