Senator seeks probe into ransomware attack against PhilHealth

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Mark Villar has filed a resolution calling for an investigation into the recent cyberattack on the website of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in support of the legislation.

Villar, in his proposed Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 811, filed on Monday, said the incident exposed the “vulnerability” of the agency’s data security measures, and pointed to the need to strengthen cybersecurity measures, especially in sectors that are too deal with sensitive data.

TThe Medusa ransomware group recently launched a ransomware attack on PhilHealth’s website and demanded a ransom of $300,000.

According to Villar, this is not only an attack on PhilHealth, but also an attack on every member of PhilHealth.

The senator also stated in his resolution that PhilHealth was not the first government agency to fall victim to a cyber attack. Other incidents involving various government agencies are as follows:

• the hacking of the Office of the Ombudsman’s internal computer system this month
• the alleged breach of the NBI and PNP database of sample ID photos, and PNP and NBI clearances in February 2023
• the COMELEC data breach last March 2016
• the attack on the main Philippine government portal “gov.ph” in 2021

“It is high time that we strengthen our cyberspace security as we are dealing with private and sensitive information that could compromise not only an institution but also that of the general Philippine public,” Villar said in a separate statement issued Tuesday.

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