MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) continued to work with the government to strengthen the country’s efforts in the fight against financial cybercrime.
This year, the 172-year-old bank embarked on a transformation journey in collaboration with the Department of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) by implementing cybercrime investigation training for prosecutors.
Jonathan John Paz, BPI’s Data Protection Officer and Corporate Information Security Officer, said the training sessions held in La Union in October and at the Philippine Development Academy in Tagaytay in early December focused on combating financial cybercrime. This marks the start of important initiatives aimed at achieving this goal.
“Cooperation between government and the private sector is progressing, the most important of which is information sharing and awareness campaigns aimed at strengthening law enforcement against cybercrime,” Paz said.
BPI recognizes that unified efforts and ongoing partnerships with government agencies are essential to strengthening cybersecurity.
BPI recognized that the private sector cannot meet this challenge alone and emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to create an enabling regulatory environment for digital finance.
Publicly traded banks believe it is critical to strengthen their partnerships with relevant government agencies so that cybersecurity becomes a shared responsibility and not just a check-box requirement.
As BPI continues to take a proactive stance in cybersecurity, cybercrime investigation training has emerged as a beacon guiding law enforcement officers, organizations, and nations toward a safer, more resilient digital future.
Training with DOJ-OOC serves as one of the driving forces in maintaining a whole-of-nation approach in the fight against cybercrime.
Recent training tailored for prosecutors focused on imparting key knowledge and skills related to legal measures regarding cybercrime and electronic evidence.
Through this partnership, BPI aims to introduce and enhance participants’ understanding of financial cybercrime, including its facilitators, suppression, deterrence, and means to improve the administration of justice.
Assistant Secretary of Justice Arturo Malvar expressed optimism about collaborative efforts with banks, envisioning a more collective, coordinated and strategic cyber response.