RP anti-cybercrime units lack gov't support: sources
by Erwin Lemuel Oliva
Date: February 09, 2004
Source: inq7.net
LAW enforcement agencies tasked to fight cybercrime in the country are not getting enough government support, several sources told INQ7.net.
"It's all lip service," said a source at the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
The US State Department donated over 23 million pesos worth of equipment and training to the PNP last year. The donation, which was part of the anti-terrorism assistance program, was intended to boost the country's fight against computer-related crimes and cyber terrorism.
One source, however, revealed that the equipment was not being used since the PNP-CIDG itself was not providing ample space for the equipment.
The source disclosed that the shipment of more donated computer equipment was put on hold due to the lack of space to house it.
"We do have a unit. But how serious is government about supporting it? There is lack of support from government in training personnel to run the cybercrime unit," the source said.
The PNP-CIDG cybercrime unit is currently operating without government funding, the source added.
This is also similar to the case of the cybercrime unit of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is dependent on donations from the United States, another source said.
Police officials declined to comment.
So far, the PNP-CIDG received three million pesos worth of equipment from the US State Department, which was intended to help boost the agency's computer forensic investigation capabilities.
The source acknowledged that that the NBI and the PNP-CIDG are now capable of conducting computer forensic investigations, but the lack of a facility to house the equipment has prevented them from applying their new skills..
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