PNP set to step up anti-cybercrime drive

THE Philippine National Police AntiCybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on Monday said it would step up its information dissemination campaign against online scams and internet fraud.

This as the unit noted mounting cybercrime incidents over the past six months compared to the same period last year.

PNP-ACG records show that cybercrime incidents in Metro Manila totaled 6,250 from January to June this year, representing a 152-percent increase from the 2,477 incidents during the first half of 2022.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City, ACG director Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia said many internet subscribers were still unaware of the “click the link” scam which targets mobile wallets and online banking subscribers.

“The victim doesn’t know that if he or she clicks the link, it would lead to

By Rio N. Araja

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)

and commercial receipts/ invoices, such as delivery receipts, order slips, purchase orders, provisional receipts, acknowledgement receipts, collection receipts, credit/debit memo, job orders and other similar documents, are supplementary evidence.

Acosta was reacting to a report that the Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the validity of PAO’s procurement of P3.310,414.42 million worth of office supplies for alleged lack of supporting documents.

Acosta stressed that the COA had already issued an unmodified opinion last March 31 as part of its annual report citing that PAO’s financial statements “are free from material misstatements and are prepared in accordance with the applicable and appropriate financial reporting framework (Section 4 B B.1, COA Financial Audit Manual).”

“Those transactions noted as having no delivery receipts and sales invoices actually have official receipts; those with no sales invoices actually have delivery a site for updating bank details. If he or she falls into the scheme, there is a big possibility that the scammers would get a hold of his or her bank details, hence, the money would be transferred to another account,” Hernia said.

He also said they have also tapped stakeholders and mobile wallet providers for massive information dissemination and awareness campaigns against scams.

Hernia also cited the need to enhance the capability of cybercrimes in the conduct of investigations and the acquisition of more advanced equipment.

“I am happy that the Chief PNP (Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.) was formerly assigned to the ACG and he is supportive of our availability of subscriptions to the latest technologies against cybercrimes. He is also supportive of our training for our personnel so that we make sure that they are capable of investigating cybercrimes,” he added.

Vince Lopez

receipts and official receipts; those without delivery receipts have sales invoices and/or official receipts; and the transaction noted as having no collection receipt/official receipt has a sales invoice and delivery receipt,” she clarified.

“In addition, the items purchased were actually delivered and formed part of PAO’s inventory,” Acosta told the Manila Standard.

She said all the noted lacking documents have already been submitted to COA.