Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairman of the Committee on Public Services, pressed government agencies and telecom companies to address the country’s poor internet service and rising cybercrimes, including hacking and text hijacking.
During a recent Senate hearing, Tulfo cited complaints about weak or unavailable cellular signals, particularly in establishments affiliated with competing telco networks.
He urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to strictly monitor signal availability in malls and collaborate with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to penalize non-compliant telcos. He also asked the NTC submit an action plan by January 20.
The broadcaster-senator criticized the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for inadequate monitoring of free public Wi-Fi, especially in malls and restaurants.
He presented videos of victims whose phones were hacked after accessing unsecured networks, allowing hackers to control devices and steal sensitive information.
Tulfo also exposed a new hacking method called “text hijacking,” where attackers intercept legitimate text messages.
He called on the DICT to strengthen cybersecurity measures and upgrade programs to protect the country’s digital infrastructure, and advised the public to avoid clicking suspicious links and sharing sensitive information through questionable messages.IMT
