PNP considers DFA passport issue a ”national security threat”

January 14, 2019

The incident in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) involving the former outsourced passport maker who allegedly stole personal data after being terminated can be considered as "national security threat", according to Philippine National Police ( PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde.

"It can be (considered) since it's a lot (of data). (It's) Not only a threat to national security but a threat to our identities. A lot of Filipinos got their passports and all the information are there. It's right that it can be a threat to national security," the PNP director general said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday.

He said the DFA is not yet coordinating with them regarding the incident but they are willing to assist the agency.

"We will be very much willing to help them. As I said, it can be a threat to national security and also to the privacy of all the individuals concern," Albayalde said.

"We have Anti-Cybercrime group and also we have ITMS (Information Technology Management Service) and DICTM (Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management)that can help. And of course, our CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) if there is a need for active police operation," he added.

Albayalde said the DFA might trying to solve the problem on their level.

"(They are) probably resolving it on their level so we don't know since we don't want to meddle with it until DFA will ask for our assistance here, " he said.

"We are very much willing to assist our DFA," Albayalde said.

Last week Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said they will be requiring birth certificates on passport renewals after a previous contractor took all the data after being terminated.

"We are rebuilding our files from scratch because previous took all the data when contract (was) terminated," Locsin said.

"Because previous contractor got pissed when terminated it made off with data. We did nothing about it or couldn't because we were in the wrong. It won't happen again. Passports pose national security issues and it cannot be kept back by private entities. Data belongs to the state," he added.

Locsin clarified the issue cannot be considered as data piracy.

The National Privacy Commission is investigating the matter.  Ella Dionisio/DMS