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CICC opens state-of-the-art cybercrime laboratory

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) unveils the latest and state-of-the-art Digital Forensics Platform and Laboratory (DFPAL).

DFPAL will be an important tool in the government’s fight against rising cybercrimes, especially, Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). This cybercrime laboratory is located at CICC’s headquarters in Quezon City.

USEC-CEZAR-MANCAO-II
USEC. CEZAR O. MANCAO II, Executive Director of CICC, delivered his keynote address at the Inauguration of CICC Digital Forensics Platform and Laboratory (DFPAL)

One of the goals of the CICC is to address the problem of OSAEC. The DFPAL will be manned by trained and certified professionals from various fields such as information and communications technology, psychology, digital forensics, data analytics, research, and communications that would provide vital support to the operations of the CICC. 

 The CICC’s DFPAL was established and operationalized to conduct relentless, coordinated efforts to prevent, disrupt, and possibly stop if not mitigate the issues of OSAEC through the collaborative partnership of local and international stakeholders towards providing a cybersafe environment for children.

CICC Executive Director Cezar O. Mancao II

The CICC was created by virtue of Republic Act 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, for policy coordination among concerned agencies. It is one of the attached agencies of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) tasked to lead the government’s efforts in the fight against cybercrimes, especially those victimizing the most vulnerable segment in society, our children.

The CICC has undertaken several programs, such as Child Online Safeguarding Policy (COSP), Cyber Patrol Program, Batang Barangay Capability Program, and the Cyber Conflict Program, among others. We are also part of the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP) and the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT).

Vulnerabilities of children

The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the problem of online child exploitation involving child pornography and other forms of child online sexual abuse, specifically with children from low-income families. This has strengthened the resolve of the CICC for safer cyberspace.

These crimes are borderless. The unprecedented access to the internet through computers and mobile phones has made children the most vulnerable segment of cybercrime.

Also Read: PLDT, Smart successfully block over 1B access attempts, 224K URLs linked to online child abuse

To report a cybercrime against children, you can call the following helplines, 09666524885 and 09206260217, or email report@cicc.gov.ph. You may also reach out to CICC institutional partners, the NBI-Cybercrime Division (nbi.gov.ph or at (877) 624-7707), PNP – Anti-Cybercrime Group (acg.pnp.gov.ph or at 0998 598 8116), and DOJ – Office of Cybercrime (+632) 523 8482).

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