Over 28 million Filipino passport holders could have their personal data compromised as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is yet to install a robust cybersecurity system, a ranking official said on Thursday.
DFA Office of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Adelio Cruz raised this possibility during a Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the proposed P27.4-billion budget of the agency for 2025. He told the senators that vulnerabilities in their system remain a deep concern for the entire department.
“We are really concerned with the security of our more than 28 million passport holders’ data,” Cruz was quoted saying in a GMA News report. “It is something we really want to protect.”
Cruz pointed out that some government data had previously been hacked and sold on the deep web, stressing the need for better security measures.
He also said the DFA is currently unhappy with how passport printing is being handled by the state-owned APO Production Unit, which is under the direct supervision of the Office of the President through the Presidential Communications Office.
“There [were] several incidents where their data and system were allegedly breached. Unfortunately, they would not admit to the gravity or to the degree of the breach. We believe that is being sugar-coated… So, perhaps it would be better if APO explains,” Cruz reportedly told the senators.
In response to these concerns, Cruz said the DFA is actively negotiating with several cybersecurity firms to implement a more reliable protection system to secure passport data at reasonable costs for the government.
Senator Loren Legarda, who chaired the Senate hearing, called on the DFA to submit a full report on the situation. She also invited Cruz to attend the budget briefing of the PCO, which supervises APO next week, so they talk about these issues. The DFA official indicated willingness to join the hearing.
Meanwhile, Cruz also reported that the DFA recently denied the passport applications of at least 171 individuals due to “questionable nationalities.” The agency also cancelled 66 Philippine passports held by foreign nationals.
The DFA official said these measures began as early as November last year with 71 cases already filed before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Cruz noted they are also actively coordinating with the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Bureau of Immigration to address the issue.
