Law enforcement agencies, GCash intensify partnership to reduce financial cybercrime impact

The GCash Customer Fraud and Legal Pursuance, Legal, Public Affairs Teams, with GCash chief information security officer Migs Geronilla (6^th from left), and Department of Justice state counsel office of cybercrime Atty. Gerald Vincent Sosa

A strong culture of collaboration between government agencies and the private sector is the best way to significantly reduce the impact of financial cybercrime on our society. This was the pronouncement made during the recent financial cybercrime learning session organized by the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas-Payments and Currency Investigation Group, Philippine Center for Transnational Crime and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in collaboration with the country’s leading finance super app, GCash.

The event gathered experts from various government agencies, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), International Police Philippines, and Philippine National Police Anti-cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), who shared their insights and best practices in combating financial cybercrime.

“The sophisticated tactics employed by cyber criminals pose significant threats to our financial systems and personnel security. Addressing these challenges requires a united effort, and it is this spirit of collaboration that has brought us together today,” says GCash legal counsel Atty. Takahiro Kenjie Aman. “This lecture is part of our ongoing efforts to safeguard the public and fortify our defenses against financial cybercrime.”

Held at the Police Non-Commissioned Officers Association (PNCO) Club Cespo Building, Camp Crame in Quezon City, the event featured speakers from the DOJ, the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, who each focused on the local and international procedures in investigating and apprehending cybercriminals, including cybercrime prosecution and litigation, investigation and attribution, data privacy perspective on cybercrime investigation and prosecution, and international coordination for cybercrime warrants. Speakers from GCash also shared about the innovative strategies and best practices that the company employs to safeguard its digital ecosystem.

Miguel "Migs" Geronilla — *GCash chief informatrion and security officer Miguel “Migs” Geronilla delivering his closing remarks*

“At GCash, we emphasize the importance of collective responsibility. Cybersecurity requires a united front and collaboration across all sectors to effectively combat cybercrimes. We believe that we should foster a culture of vigilance and cooperation among government agencies and the private sector and across industries so we can protect our digital space against evolving threats,” GCash chief information security officer Migs Geronilla. “This lecture is a crucial step in strengthening our collective efforts to protect the public and build a safer digital landscape.”

In one of the discussions on prosecution of financial cybercrime and digital evidence, Department of Justice – National Prosecution Service prosecutor Robin Landicho said that “If private stakeholders like GCash and other corporations do not lend a hand and cooperate, how can we get ahead in solving cases? There is often confusion about what data is all about, so it’s crucial for us to understand electronic evidence today. Cybercrime is borderless and does not recognize any territory, race, or gender.”

As the biggest digital ecosystem in the Philippines, GCash group data protection officer and head of regulatory technology Attorney Rob Real also highlighted its role in protecting users’ privacy and maintaining trust during financial cybercrime investigations.

*GCash chief data privacy officer Atty Rob Real on Financial CyberCrime Investigations Data Privacy Consideration lecture*

“I hope we can understand the interplay of data privacy and financial cybercrime investigation. We have a lot of tools to combat cybercrime, and we need to understand its principles and considerations. By implementing robust data protection measures, balancing privacy with legal obligations, and maintaining transparency, GCash can effectively support investigations while preserving user trust and adhering to data privacy standards,” says Atty. Real.

In terms of addressing the legal and collaborative aspects of investigating and prosecuting crimes that occur in the digital realm, Attorney GV Sosa of the DOJ, Office of Cybercrime said “International cooperation and cyber warrants are crucial in tackling cybercrime. International coordination ensures that cross-border cybercrimes are effectively managed through collaboration and shared resources, while cyber warrants provide the legal basis for accessing digital evidence. Both elements are essential for building a comprehensive and effective response to the evolving landscape of cyber threats.”

During the event, GCash also shed light on the importance of leveraging advanced tools, investigation techniques, and attribution processes to combat cyber threats. This includes utilizing advanced technologies, like AI, big data analytics, and machine learning.

“Cyber threats continue to evolve, and in terms of cybercrime, we are all exposed. Cybercriminals are highly innovative, adaptable, decentralized, and anonymous. It’s crucial to understand the available tools and their legal implications. At GCash, we constantly leverage technology to effectively investigate and attribute cybercrimes, providing a more secure and safer digital experience for millions of Filipinos,” says GCash head of legal pursuance Atty. Dino Regalario.

Atty. Jaime Sandino "Dino" Regalario — *GCash head of legal pursuance Atty. Jaime Sandino “Dino” Regalario on the topic Investigation Techniques and Attribution.*

Recognizing the growing prevalence of financial cybercrime in the Philippines, GCash is committed to working closely with government agencies to protect the public and safeguard digital transactions, ultimately seeking to support the capabilities of law enforcement in investigating, prosecuting, and preventing cybercrimes to ensure a better, safer digital-ready nation.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.