AFP probes alleged data breach involving Air Force

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Tuesday it was investigating a reported data breach involving the Philippine Air Force (PAF) following online claims that sensitive personnel and administrative records had been compromised.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said that military cybersecurity units were verifying the information but stressed that “at this point, these are mere speculations.”

She told reporters in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, that the AFP monitors thousands of attempted cyberattacks daily and maintains safeguards to protect its systems.

Article continues after this advertisement

“There is no impenetrable system. What is important is that we have the proper security in place,” Padilla said.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

READ: AFP urges responsible behavior after editor tagged in hacking its site

Deep Web Konek, a Philippine-based cybersecurity advocacy and threat intelligence group, earlier posted on its Facebook page that a hacker had obtained files from the PAF’s Human Resource Management Information System.

It said the supposedly compromised records included confidential command orders, logistics and promotion documents, information on military camps and bases, and personnel names and identification numbers.

Downloadable

The supposed hacker reportedly claimed that the files were available for download on a dark web forum.

Article continues after this advertisement

Asked whether the alleged leak of military personnel records could compromise operations, Padilla said the potential impact would depend on the nature and extent of the information involved.

She did not say when the investigation would be completed, saying the AFP would release updates once its technical personnel submitted their findings.

Article continues after this advertisement

PAF spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian, meanwhile, said the Air Force’s 950th Cyber Wing was coordinating with the AFP Cyber Command to verify the reports.

“The Air Force did its due diligence. We checked and elevated everything to the AFP Cyber Command,” he added. /cb