Representatives of the different sectors joined the Cybercrime Prevention Awareness Campaign conducted by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) last March 24 at Baguio City Hall.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong graced the event participated in by barangay officials, representatives from the Department of Education and Sangguniang Kabataan among others via Zoom, Facebook, and face-to-face.
This was the first session in a series planned for the city in fulfillment of the city-CICC cooperation to build the city’s capability on cybercrime prevention, suppression and prosecution forged through a memorandum of agreement signed in November last year.
The awareness campaign was led by Cybercrime Investigation Office Director, Maj. Gen. Marvin Manuel Pepino, Intelligence Processing Division Chief Nathaniel Rabonza, and Cybercrime Prevention Awareness Campaign Team Leader Christine Apple Pre.
Magalong and CICC Executive Director Cezar Mancao on Nov. 25, 2021 signed the MOA for the implementation of “acceptable modes of coordination and cooperation in addressing and mitigating the cyber threat in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 10175” or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Both agreed to collaborate and cooperate on the areas of intelligence, investigations training, and capacity building related to cybercrime prevention, suppression, and prosecution.
Among the activities are the conduct of training and capacity building sessions for the enhancement of theoretical, technical, and legal knowledge on cybercrime prevention and suppression, cybersecurity, and pertinent provisions of RA 10175 and campaigns against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children for select LGU personnel and representatives of the government agencies, non-government agencies, and other sectors.
The CICC will conduct the trainings and provide speakers while the city government will provide the venue and technical support and designate the participants.
In the MOA, it was noted that numerous false and misleading posts and content, which caused violations of health and safety protocols and community quarantine guidelines have proliferated through various social media platforms.
“The city’s vaccination and quarantine enforcement efforts have been diminished and impaired by the dissemination of these false posts and content which if not acted upon endanger the health and safety of the city’s citizens,” the MOA said.
“The (CICC and the city government) recognize that there is a need to adopt an appropriate digital governance and adherence to proper cyber risk management to address the growing concerns against all forms of cybercrime incidents.”
CICC is an inter-agency body mandated to coordinate cybercrime prevention programs with local government units and the business sector. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
April 25, 2024
