DFA Data Breached: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the Philippines is facing a major cyberattack as over 28 million passport holders are at risk of having their personal data compromised due to inadequate cybersecurity measures.
This alarming situation came to light during a Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the proposed P27.4-billion budget for the DFA in 2025.
The DFA’s Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Adelio Cruz, expressed deep concern about the vulnerability of the department’s systems and the potential impact of a DFA data breach on the personal information of millions of Filipinos. He highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue, stating, “We are really concerned with the security of our more than 28 million passport holders’ data. It is something we really want to protect.”
Cruz’s concerns are rooted in the fact that government data has been previously hacked and sold on the dark web, emphasizing the need for robust security measures to prevent a similar incident from occurring. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the current handling of passport printing by the state-owned APO Production Unit, which is under the direct supervision of the Presidential Communications Office.
“We are really concerned with the security of our more than 28 million passport holders’ data,” Cruz was quoted saying in a GMA News report. “It is something we really want to protect.”
Cruz pointed out that there have been several incidents where APO’s data and systems were allegedly breached, but the agency has not acknowledged the severity of the breaches. He believes that these incidents are being downplayed and that the government should be more transparent about the risks involved.
DFA Data Breach Response
In response to these concerns, the DFA is actively negotiating with several cybersecurity firms to implement a more reliable protection system for passport data at reasonable costs for the government. Senator Loren Legarda, who chaired the Senate hearing, called on the DFA to submit a full report on the situation and invited Cruz to attend the budget briefing of the PCO next week to discuss these issues.
The DFA is also taking steps to address fraudulent passport applications. The agency recently denied passport applications from at least 171 individuals due to “questionable nationalities” and canceled 66 Philippine passports held by foreign nationals. These measures began in November of last year, and 71 cases have already been filed with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The DFA is actively coordinating with the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Bureau of Immigration to address this issue.
The DFA data breach is a serious concern for the Philippines, as it could have significant consequences for the privacy and security of millions of citizens. The DFA’s efforts to address this issue are crucial to protecting the personal information of passport holders and ensuring the integrity of the country’s passport system.
