The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a formal investigation into a recent cyberattack that compromised the official website of the Senate.
Law enforcement authorities are currently working to identify the perpetrators while simultaneously reinforcing the upper chamber’s digital infrastructure.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced on Friday that the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group is actively collaborating with Senate IT experts and other government agencies.
The joint effort aims to secure digital evidence, assess the full extent of the intrusion, and implement stricter protocols to prevent future vulnerabilities.
“While we are relieved that no sensitive or confidential data was compromised in this defacement, an attack on a vital government institution remains a serious breach of security,” Nartatez noted.
The Senate’s IT department reported the security breach on Thursday, confirming that hackers had defaced portions of the portal. The website was immediately taken offline to undergo a comprehensive forensic examination.
A hacktivist group calling itself “Nullsec PH” has publicly claimed responsibility for the unauthorized access, triggering a wider audit of the chamber’s online systems.
Addressing the criminal nature of the incident, Nartatez warned that individuals targeting government platforms would face severe legal consequences.
The digital breach coincided with a period of internal political volatility within the Senate, following a controversial June 3 leadership reorganization. During that session, a 12-member bloc voted to elect Senator Win Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President.
However, the leadership transition remains heavily contested, as embattled Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies challenge the legitimacy of the vote, maintaining that he remains the rightful leader of the chamber.