Passport data loss considered national security threat

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said on Monday, January 14, that the passport data loss by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) can be considered as a “national security threat.”

“Pwede, kasi napakarami nyan (nawalang data). Not only threat to national security but also on the threat of our identities na napakaraming Pilipino na kumuha ng passport na andun lahat ang iyong information. That is one threat. Totoo yung sabi mo it can be a threat to national security,” Albayalde said in a press conference in Camp Crame.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, for his part, said the DFA is already working on the matter.

“We should let DFA explain how this happened. Hintay tayo ng update. I am sure that with this experience, the DFA would not allow its repetition in the future,” he said.

Earlier, DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said a private contractor refused to turn over the personal data of passport applicants after its contract was terminated.

Albayalde said they have yet to receive a request from any concerned agency to help resolve the matter, but he said they were willing to help in any way they can.

“Yes, we will be very much willing to help them. Sabi ko nga it can be a threat to national security and also to the privacy of individuals concerned,” Albayalde said.

“We have the ACG (Anti-cyber Crime Group) and the ITMS (Information Technology Management Service) and DICTM (Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management) natin na pwedeng tumulong and of course ‘yung ating CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) kung kinakailangan talaga magkaroon ng active police operations,” he said./sunstar Philippines