The Philippine government is investigating the unauthorized disclosure of documents related to preparations for the 2026 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) activities, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Friday.
The DICT said its Initial assessments indicated that the leaked files are administrative and preparatory in nature.
It said the documents do not include substantive agenda papers, official deliberations or policy discussions. There is currently no evidence that ASEAN systems, digital platforms or classified materials were compromised in the incident, it said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is leading an active investigation alongside law enforcement and intelligence agencies to determine how the documents were disclosed, the DICT said.
DICT officials are providing forensic and containment support to the ongoing probe.
The government has moved to strengthen cybersecurity measures for all ASEAN 2026 venues and digital infrastructure as a result of the breach, it said.
These actions are intended to enhance national cyber resilience and ensure the security of the international event, according to the agency.
The department did not provide specific operational details due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.
The agency confirmed that briefings are being conducted through official channels with relevant stakeholders and ASEAN counterparts.
The Philippine government said it treats matters affecting national security and international cooperation with the utmost seriousness.
The DICT said it remains committed to a whole-of-government approach to safeguarding information systems and will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.
