Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has reiterated his call for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as well as other government agencies to bolster its cybersecurity defenses amid the recent ransomware attack that led to the exposure of sensitive data.
Go said the protection of data and the continuity of services, especially for the underprivileged, should be of utmost priority.
“Unang-una, hindi tayo pwedeng maging kampante. Ang bawat detalye ng impormasyon ay mahalaga, at ang bawat segundo ng pagka-antala sa serbisyo ay maaaring magdulot ng malaking problema sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan,” said Go.
Go, chairperson of the Committee on Health, urged PhilHealth to take immediate and stringent measures.
“Dapat ay mayroon tayong preventive measures na hindi na maulit ang ganitong insidente. Kailangan nating palakasin ang ating cybersecurity defenses,” he added.
The senator also stressed the importance of ensuring that PhilHealth’s services remain uninterrupted, especially for the poor.
“Karamihan sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga mahihirap, ay umaasa sa PhilHealth para sa kanilang mga pangangailangan sa ospital. Dapat ay walang maantala sa serbisyong ito,” he emphasized.
According to reports, the hackers exposed PhilHealth employees’ identification cards, payroll details, and other sensitive information. The ransomware attack, which used Medusa ransomware, demanded a ransom of $300,000 or approximately P17 million from the agency.
PhilHealth confirmed that user data, including names, addresses, and identification numbers, were compromised.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Privacy Commission are still determining the extent of the compromised data. Go called for proper support to mitigate the risks of identity theft and further cyberattacks.
“Hindi lamang ang PhilHealth ang nasa peligro dito, kundi pati na rin ang bawat miyembro nito. Kailangan ng suporta mula sa DICT at National Privacy Commission para sa masusing imbestigasyon,” he pointed out.
As the investigation continues, Go remains steadfast in his call for strengthened cybersecurity measures and uninterrupted services, particularly for the marginalized sectors of society.
“Ang cybersecurity ay hindi lamang responsibilidad ng PhilHealth o ng gobyerno. Ito ay responsibilidad nating lahat. Kailangan ng kooperasyon mula sa bawat isa para masiguro ang ligtas na paggamit ng digital platforms,” Go added.