The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has identified the individuals allegedly responsible for the hacking of the websites of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said the individuals involved may have played different roles in the attacks but are believed to belong to the same group.
Matibag said authorities intend to hold those responsible accountable, noting that the attacks on the websites of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the NBI were illegal.
Despite the cyberattacks, government officials said no sensitive information was compromised during the incidents.
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Undersecretary Alexander “Aboy” Paraiso said the government’s core systems are separate from the public-facing websites of agencies.
Because of this setup, he explained, critical government data and essential systems were not affected by the attacks.
Paraiso added that public websites are intentionally designed to be easily accessible to citizens, making them more vulnerable to cyber threats than internal government networks.
The disclosure came as the NBI and the CICC formally strengthened their cooperation in addressing cybercrime and other online threats.
Under a newly established partnership, the two agencies will share information, expertise and resources to improve investigations and enhance efforts against illegal online activities.
Authorities said the collaboration aims to speed up cybercrime investigations and strengthen the government’s ability to respond to digital security threats.
The identification of the suspected hackers marks a significant development in the investigation into the attacks on government websites. However, officials have yet to release the identities of those involved as legal proceedings continue.
The NBI said it remains committed to pursuing cases against those responsible for cyberattacks targeting government platforms.
