PNP-ACG pushes strategic alliances to strengthen cybercrime response
The group has seen 88,790 incidents since its establishment.
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) is strengthening collaboration with private companies and government agencies to expand its ability to investigate and prevent cybercrime, Police Colonel Alexander Lorenzo said during the GovMedia Summit 2026 held on 17 March at the Makati Shangri-La, Manila.
The growing scale of digital crime in the Philippines requires deeper public-private partnerships to support law enforcement operations and improve cyber threat intelligence, according to Lorenzo.
The PNP-ACG, created in 2013 under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, currently has 853 personnel responsible for protecting roughly 97.5 million ICT users across the country.
Because of this gap, Lorenzo said collaboration with banks, telecommunications firms, technology providers, and other private institutions has become a critical component of the group’s strategy.
“No single institution can address today's complex digital threats alone,” Lorenzo told participants at the summit.
The ACG has formalised partnerships with financial institutions, private companies, and government agencies to improve information sharing and reporting of cyber incidents.
Authorities said such partnerships are critical in improving information sharing and reporting of cyber incidents, particularly amongst private organisations that may hesitate to disclose breaches.
Underreporting remains a key challenge, according to the ACG. Some companies avoid reporting cyber incidents such as ransomware attacks due to concerns about reputational damage, making it harder for authorities to track organised criminal networks operating online.
Data presented during the summit showed that the ACG has recorded 88,790 cybercrime incidents since its establishment in 2013.
Between January 2023 and April 2024, the unit arrested 1,691 individuals, served more than 1,100 cyber warrants, and conducted 1,592 operations targeting cyber-enabled crimes.
Officials said the most common cyber offences include online selling scams, which remain the most prevalent, alongside investment scams, romance scams, and other forms of online fraud. Other priority concerns include sextortion and online sexual exploitation of children.
To expand its reach nationwide, the ACG has established 17 regional offices and deployed 29 city-level cybercrime teams.
Lorenzo said the unit is continuing to invest in new investigative tools, including a mobile digital forensics van and a centralised fusion centre designed to improve coordination between law enforcement, regulators, and industry partners.
The group is also working to strengthen cooperation with both domestic and international partners, including the private sector, to enhance cyber intelligence monitoring and response capabilities.
