NBI to summon 30 more people in massive BDO hacking incident

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday said it will summon 30 individuals to shed light on the recent hacking of Banco de Oro (BDO).

NBI OIC-Director Eric Distor said that the NBI Cyber Crime Division has identified these individuals in their continuing investigation.
Distor said the NBI has vowed to pursue the investigation of hacking incidents not only of BDO but other banks as well until all the perpetrators are brought to justice and the stolen money is properly accounted for.

Distor gave this assurance to the public following the arrest of five suspects in a successful series of operations conducted from January 17 to 20, 2022, in Mabalacat, Pampanga, and Pasig City by Agents of the NBI-Cyber Crime Division (NBI-CCD).

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said criminal complaints have been filed before trial courts against the suspects. Of the five arrested suspects, two are Nigerian nationals and three are Filipinos. All suspects have been presented for inquest proceedings before the DOJ on January 21, 2022.

Charges for 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 suspects. Distor stressed that a follow-up investigation and actions are now being undertaken to identify and unmask the cohorts.

NBI Spokesperson  Ferdinand Lavin, also NBI Deputy Director for Forensic Investigation Service confirmed that Distor has ordered the CCD to investigate the alleged hacking of Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) as disclosed by Secretary of Justice.

According to 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. NBI is expecting complainants/victims to file their formal complaints before the Cybercrime Division of the Bureau.

The DOJ’s Office of the Prosecutor General said that since trial courts in the National Capital Region and other places in the country are physically closed, the cases against them were “E-filed yesterday, Jan. 27.”

Assistant State Prosecutor Honey Rose E. Delgado, spokesperson Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), said charged with violations of Republic Act No. 8484, the Access Devices Regulation Act of 2012, before the Angeles City regional trial court (RTC) was Nigerian Ifesinachi Fountain Anaekwe alias “Daddy Champ.”

The two Filipinos—Ronelyn Panaligan and Clay Revillosa—were charged with violations of RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, before the Pasig City RTC and Quezon City RTC, respectively.

“A Motion for Issuance of Hold Departure Order will be filed against Anaekwe, and a Motion for Issuance of Precautionary Hold Departure Order will be filed against Nwadi,” the DOJ said. With Rey E. Requejo