NPC, ACG sign MOU to strengthen cybercrime response

MANILA, Philippines — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) have entered into a strategic partnership to protect citizens’ rights in cyberspace.

NPC commissioner John Henry Naga and ACG director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to safeguard the digital rights and privacy of Filipinos.

“(This partnership) strengthens our ability to act swiftly and decisively in addressing threats, respond with clarity in moments of crisis and coordinate seamlessly in the pursuit of accountability,” Naga said in a statement.

In a report released after his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Marcos noted that the number of reported cybercrime incidents dropped from 21,300 in 2023 to 14,529 in 2024.

To sustain this downward trend, the partnership ensures the NPC fulfills its mandate to enhance data privacy and cybersecurity protection while maximizing government resources to safeguard the public.

According to Naga, the agreement covers the establishment of a case referral system, joint investigation and information-sharing protocols, enforcement support mechanisms, as well as knowledge exchange and capacity-building activities.

Under the case referral system, both agencies will develop shared guidelines and secure procedures to handle, coordinate and track cases efficiently, including protocols for jurisdictional determination and information confidentiality.

For joint investigations, the MOU defines the roles, responsibilities and standards for evidence sharing, joint conferences and investigation monitoring.

The agreement will remain in effect for three years unless revoked by either party.