AROUND 30 individuals are set to be summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), hopefully to be to shed light on the recent hacking involving Banco de Oro (BDO).
In a statement, NBI OIC-Director Eric Distor said that the NBI Cyber Crime Division has already identified the individuals as part of their continuing investigation on the case.
Distor said the NBI vowed to pursue the investigation of hacking incidents not only the one that involved BDO but also other banks until all the perpetrators are brought to justice and the stolen money are properly accounted for.
The assurance to the public was given by Distor after the NBI Cyber Crime Division (NBI-CCD) arrested five subjects in a series of operations conducted from January 17-20, 2022 in Mabalacat, Pampanga and Pasig City by NBI-CCD agents.
Among those arrested were two Nigerian nationals and three Filipinos. They have been presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice on January 21, 2022.
Charges of Misuse of Devices defined and penalized under RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and Violation of the Access Device Regulation Act of 1998 were filed against the subjects. Distor stressed that a follow up investigation and other actions are now being done to identify and unmask their cohorts.
NBI Deputy Director for Forensic Investigation Service and concurrent NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin confirmed that Distor has ordered the NBI-CCD to conduct investigation on the alleged hacking of Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) as disclosed by the Secretary of Justice.
“Our agents from the Cyber Crime Division are now coordinating with the LBP representatives for their initial investigation. Although in their statement, they clarified that there was no hacking that took place and their systems remain to be secured.”
According to the LBP, the incidents of fraudulent transactions on the two teachers’ accounts were reported to have been caused by phishing which has compromised their personal information. The NBI is expecting complainants/victims to file their formal complaints before the NBI-CCD.
Lavin encouraged the public to report to the NBI-CCD any suspicious activities related to online phishing/hacking activities.
In an effort to respond to increasing complaints of cybercrime, Director Distor has earlier beefed up the capacity and strengthened NBI-CCD by assigning an entire batch of newly-trained graduates of the NBI Academy to the NBI-CCD.