Article by:
Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Monday partnered with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to boost the country’s fight against digital organized crime, particularly illicit online gambling.
In a message to the Philippine News Agency, CICC head of communications Aya Macalma said the CICC’s role in its partnership with PAOCC —the country’s focal agency tasked to investigate and prosecute organized crimes— is to develop comprehensive case files for investigation.
“CICC is mandated with the preparation to establish a case build-up against and prosecution of organized crime groups,” Macalma said.
In particular, the CICC will assist in carrying out digital forensics activities and lead the blocking of illicit gambling websites and content.
“This partnership proclaims CICC and PAOCC’s commitment to spearheading the abolition of illegal online practices nationwide, persisting with the goal of purging the digital landscape and bringing the perpetrators to justice to a reputable and guarded online environment,” the CICC said in a statement.
The CICC’s partnership with PAOCC is the latest formalized by the agency with government agencies in its fight against illicit online gambling, especially Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) run by organized crime groups.
It has also formalized joint operations with the Philippine National Police–Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and the civil group Digital Pinoys to crack down against illegal online gambling and its promoters.
“Authorities are urged to exercise extreme vigilance to apprehend the threat actors that are now pooling resources to execute cybercrimes, including operating POGO hubs and illegal online gambling,” it said.
On March 4, the CICC announced its partnership with Digital Pinoys in a month-long documentation and verification of illegal gambling sites, applications, and their promoters as part of criminal and administrative cases to be filed by government authorities.
The findings were handed over to the PNP-ACG, and suspects will face charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and other violations, such as syndicated estafa. (PNA)
Log in with Google