What do you think of NBI's report that cybercrimes are on the rise?

Chato Baker, Metro Manila: Well, years old na ‘yang cybercrime ’no!  

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Now this is not just a Philippine phenomenon, but the world over, brought about by the Internet. We are no exception.  

Old hat

Marzenario Santin, Metro Manila: I believe this issue existed even before Facebook hit its peak. The proper use of the Internet would be necessary in order to circumvent cyber-criminality. Moreover, parents also need to be responsible in monitoring their children’s activity involving cyberspace.  

Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: If the NBI report is an update, they’re off by some good years. As expected. 

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Bakit, ngayon lang ba nila nalaman? 

Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: There’s nothing new to these NBI reports. All crimes, whether through the Internet or otherwise, are on the rise in this country, especially crimes inflicted by some of our very own government officials and recognized political leaders against us, their poor constituents, i.e. using the people’s money for their and their families’ self- aggrandizement. As long as social injustices, directionless governance, weak leadership, biased implementation of laws, lax and incompetent AFP and PNP personnel, along with other government investigating agencies and private armies of powerful warlords/ politicians are present in our country, expect crimes to thrive in our nation.  

The price we have to pay

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: With the onset of modern technology, all forms of crime will be committed using cell phones and other gadgets. The news says it all. 

Rene Poder, Manila: Criminal minds feast on new technology. When trains were new, train robbers galloped to the scene. 

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: It’s nothing new. As the world’s technology advances, criminal minds are not left behind in devising clever ways of going after their potential victims.  

Pinoys love to text and chat

Richard Decena, Quezon City: On the rise po kasi mahilig ang mga Pinoy sa text at chat. Sa halip na maglinis ng bahay at kapaligiran, kamunduhan ang inuuna. 

Gee Ann Rivera, Metro Manila: Social networking sites have served as an opportunity for criminals to proliferate.

What are we doing about it?

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: It’s good to know that our intelligence agency is doing its job, even without media prodding. Now, other than reporting this, the NBI should also report on the actions and solutions taken to curb these cybercrimes. They need to tell the people what is being done to address the matter. 

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: The cybercrimes have long been happening in our midst. The question is how effective our law enforcers are in curbing this hi-tech crime. 

Jayson Biadog, Mandaluyong City: It’s true. They need to track and penalize these elements. 

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: That’s already old news! As far as I can recall, there have been so many reports in the past two years of the discovery of cyberdens in some parts of the country after intensive surveillance by law enforcement agencies. Proper arrests of alleged operators and participants in illegal sexual activities on cyberspace were made. However, it seems that no corresponding charges, court proceedings and eventual conviction of the guilty parties were ever reportedly established. Thus, lack of public dissemination of news regarding proper action taken by law enforcement agencies conveys the impression of cover up thereto. 

Nescel Panes, Passi City, Iloilo: Cybercrimes are indeed growing in number. Computers are built to provide convenience to work, facilitate the easy access to online business and transactions, and connect with friends and relatives. We entrust everything to our political leaders to act upon this alarming scenario. This must be stopped and it must start now. 

Ill-equipped

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Crimes in cyberspace have been reported in the media to be multiplying some years ago. Why is the NBI saying that cybercrimes are on the rise just now? Knee-jerk reaction to the murder case of a poor “Facebook Juliet” of a pretending “Facebook Romeo”, and the stabbing of a TV director by his apparently “Facebook gigolo”. The point is: Does the NBI have the capability to detect the predators in cyberspace, what more the hackers? I don’t think so. NBI sub-offices are still using typewriters, and I don’t think that it has in its employ computer geeks to police crimes in cyberspace. 

Dr. Francis Regalado, Manila: It’s the 21st century. Everybody is trying to reinvent himself. Crooks take their crimes on the Internet for a whole new level of prank acts, and make lives miserable for others. It’s pathetic that these cybercrimes can outwit our crime fighters, as corruption has taken away their funds to better their skills and equipment. 

We need laws against cybercrimes

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Cybercrimes are on the rise because there are no laws that control the use of cyberspace. 

Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal: To deal with them, new laws and police methods and regulations must be made and adopted.  

Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: It’s time for Congress to consider the issue seriously and enact a law to allow law enforcers to proactively address cybercrimes. 

Pong Tenazas, Quezon City: Hopefully, we can have a law against it in the near future, but since wala pa, ingat ka na lang. 

Public information is necessary

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Cybercrimes are high-tech and sometimes too complicated. Along this line, public cooperation and awareness are necessary, while NBI’s capacity and capability on tackling cybercrimes is being upgraded. 

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: That’s to be expected. Authorities should intensify its anti-cybercrime information drive through media and websites to warn innocent victims.  

Upgrade security

Lucas Banzon Madamba, Laguna: This is just based on prevalent information on cybercrimes. Security facilities should be upgraded and activated to monitor such occurrences. 

Felix Ramento, USA: It means that local criminals can also go global. Therefore, in order to be able to cope with the trend, security personnel need to be upgraded as well.  

Debriefing is a must

Cris Rivera, Rizal: It sounds like our lawful authorities, against a well-oiled syndicate, are in a helpless state. Something’s amiss. A debriefing is a must. 

Modus operandi

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: I think this is true because of many recent computer programs hacking even big companies like Sony. Others are fraudulent notifications of winning something through the Internet. But the worst is cyberspace pornography, victimizing even underage group of people, who are both curious and innocent.  

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: Cybercrimes have been going on around the world for a long time now and have been on the rise, as technology has continuously improved. Criminals can now steal classified information. The NBI report came only because of recent local crimes committed by our homegrown cyber criminals. I would like to mention here that time and again, I receive text messages informing me of a big win P1 million prize from a special draw of cell phone numbers by so and so agency, asking me to contact usually a lawyer with this or that number. My son’s advice would be, “Dad, don’t call. Scam ‘yan!” I was also once a victim of a hacker in 2009. I thought something went wrong with my email address or password, until one compadre of mine called up the house and said, “Bakit may email ka sa akin na nasa Nigeria ka at you are in trouble and can’t return home because you need to pay $3,500 for your hotel bills?!” I told him, “Yes, pare, I am here in Nigeria, but not in Africa, but Nigeria St., Parañaque City.” Then, one by one my friends and relatives here and abroad flooded my phone with calls, one of them ready to send the amount asked. Since then, three of my friends were also hacked. I hope that by now, our cyber users know the existence of these criminals and learn how to avoid being hacked or being a victim. 

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Cybercrimes are global and those high crimes, such as stealing classified information and hacking, are problematic even in advanced countries, as it is difficult to identify the perpetrators. High-profile users have to take preventive measures, but the problem is that the perpetrators are highly trained in their trade. Locally, the sex trade has thrived via cyberspace. If done at home, police have no way of apprehending, as sex is a privilege if done in private. There are modus operandi where someone will pretend to be a foreigner with substantial treasure and will ask help from you to keep such. But before that could be executed, they will ask your bank account number where they can make a “deposit”. You will find out later that in lieu of deposits, there are unauthorized withdrawals from your account. There are also notices that you won prizes, but you have to shell out a certain amount before you could get the prize. Of course, only gullible Filipinos are victimized and the police have no way of knowing the culprits. The computer is now indispensable in business and users simply have to be careful. 

The worst is yet to come

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: With the availability of the Internet just around the corner, expect the worst still to come. The scope is too big to monitor and might prove impossible to control. 

Forewarned is forearmed

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Of course, the NBI report is based on available data, and floating the same for the information and consumption of all concerned is one way to forewarn and forearm the public at large to preempt being victimized by the menace. 

Bong Nebrija, Quezon City: I’m happy that the NBI has already recognized the fact that cybercrimes are on the rise, but what would please me more is to hear that they already have a concrete plan to put the perpetrators behind bars. I think the government should carry out a lot of information drives to educate the people on safe and responsible Internet surfing, particularly on social networks. We recognize the fact that there are really many cyber predators on the Internet, but common sense and good judgment will play a big role in preventing us from falling victims to them. 

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: NBI’s report about the increase in cybercrimes is not surprising because there are now plenty of users; even five-year-old kids already know how to operate the computer. What is surprising is the increase in illiterate users who don’t know what garbage “in” is and garbage “out”. My advice is, when you receive electronic communication sent by a stranger, immediately “delete” it because the tendency is, it will destroy your computer or you will be a victim of whatever crime prepared for you. 

A global phenomenon

Rudolf Rainer Asuncion, Metro Manila: The report is quite true as it is worldwide, due to the fact that globalists are funding them. In military speak, that’s a “false flag op”.  

Ferdinand Sajul, Metro Manila: NBI, get your ass in gear! You are always late in your announcement. Let’s hope the NBI recruits the best of the best to man its cybercrime division, as it will not be easy. Many of these cyber attacks are government-sponsored, as part of social engineering agenda. The stuxnet that compromised the Iran nuclear project came from Israel. Russia and China are into the cyber attack game. The US is too, primarily, no doubt.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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