An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed serious concern about the security of passport data for over 28 million Filipinos and highlighted the need for a robust cybersecurity system to protect this information.
“We are really concerned with the security of our more than 28 million passport holders’ data,” said DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Adelio Cruz during a Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the agency’s proposed P27.4 billion budget for 2025. He added that the DFA is “seriously looking into the possibility of employing a cybersecurity system for all our passport data.”
Cruz also raised issues regarding the APO Production Unit, the government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for passport printing, citing multiple instances of alleged data breaches. “Unfortunately, they would not admit to the gravity or to the degree of the breach,” he said, calling for APO to explain the incidents.
The assistant secretary’s remarks come amid growing concerns over cybersecurity across various government agencies, with some data reportedly being sold on the dark web. Cruz assured the Senate that the DFA would submit a report “sometime next week” to address the concerns and safeguard the data of Filipino passport holders.
Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate subcommittee, urged the DFA to provide full information on the breaches and indicated she is considering filing a resolution to tackle the issue. A meeting between APO and the DFA’s consular affairs office is expected to take place soon to resolve the concerns.
“We have our litany of concerns, madame chair,” Cruz said, agreeing to attend further hearings on the matter.