Philippines elevates cyber defence to national security priority

Cyber incidents now reach Cabinet and Presidential attention as risks to government systems grow.

Cybersecurity threats in the Philippines are now treated as national security risks, with officials linking cyberattacks, misinformation, and data breaches to ongoing geopolitical tensions, according to a panel discussion during the GovMedia Summit 2026 at Shangri-La Makati, Manila.

Government speakers said cyber risk has moved beyond a technical or operational concern, with agencies escalating incidents to Cabinet level and, in critical cases, reporting them to the President.

Francel Padilla, Cybersecurity Woman Leader and Evangelist at the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said cyberattacks form part of a broader security environment shaped by geopolitical tensions.

“Part of the vector of attacks is cyberattacks,” she said. “This is a national security concern and should be addressed, but cannot be addressed solely by the AFP.”

Padilla added that nation-state actors are behind some attacks targeting government systems.

“The hacking incidents involving our government sites… are all part of the geopolitical tensions because there are nation-state actors that are doing this against our country,” she said, calling for a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach.

Arlene Romasanta, Director IV and CIO at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said agencies monitor threats through National Security Operations Centres, where teams analyse incidents and resolve them at the technical level.

“We monitor all cybersecurity threats coming into our network… and most importantly, prevent cyberattacks,” she said.

She added that agencies escalate critical cases through the National Computer Emergency Response Team and report them to senior leadership when deemed national in scope.

“If this becomes critical, it will be reported… and that is when it is reported in the Cabinet and to the President himself,” Romasanta added

The shift comes as the Philippines expands digital government services, increasing exposure to cyber risks. Officials cited ransomware attacks, data leaks, and repeated intrusions targeting public sector systems.

Hero Singun, Chief of the Information Systems Management Division at the National Bureau of Investigation, said agencies coordinate across multiple bodies, including the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, to respond to threats.

He added that attackers often exploit outdated systems and vulnerable online platforms.

“They are targeting easy targets like outdated websites and social media accounts that are very vulnerable to phishing attacks,” he said.

Padilla said the threat landscape extends beyond system breaches to include information warfare.

“We are already at war in terms of information and cognitive warfare. It’s a war on words, propaganda,” she said.

Officials said addressing these risks requires coordination across agencies, sustained investment, and public awareness, as cyber threats continue to evolve alongside technological adoption.