The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) said it handled a total of 16,297 cybercrime cases from January to August 2023.
This has resulted in the rescue of 4,092 victims of drug operations and human trafficking and the arrest of 397 individuals.
In a statement, the PNP-ACG said the cases this year have evolved to include the “exploitation” of new technologies such as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), cryptocurrencies, and online casinos to defraud unsuspecting victims in addition to the usual cases of cybercrime.
It was able to secure 19 Warrants to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data; serve 214 arrest warrants; and conduct 140 entrapment operations. At least 24 cases are ongoing investigations with other units and agencies.
PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the operations against cybercrime groups are results of the police “focused agenda in advancing our information and communication technology for the conduct of honest and aggressive law enforcement operations.”
The PNP reported in July a 152% increase in cybercrimes in the National Capital Region from January to June 2023 —6,250 cases compared to the 2,477 cases in the same period in 2022.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission also conducted a conference to address the text scams which continued to proliferate despite the passage of the SIM Registration law.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
