The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now investigating the leak of the Office of the Ombudsman’s investigators’ identities online.
‘The investigation will not be limited to external actors… Possible internal involvement within the Ombudsman is also being examined as part of the cyber probe,’ PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Monday.
‘We will look into this case with urgency and with a commitment to run after all those involved,’ he added.
The Ombudsman flagged the leak in a statement on Sunday, condemning the unauthorized disclosure of the investigators’ identities as a ‘blatant attempt to intimidate public servants.’
Although it did not detail the nature and extent of the leak, the Ombudsman mentioned ‘recent filings involving high-ranking officials.’
Nartatez said the perpetrators of the leak may face charges for violating Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act; and RA No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
‘I assure that appropriate charges will be filed against individuals behind this leak of information,’ the PNP chief stressed.
‘The PNP also assures all government officials and employees that the police force is ready to protect them against all kinds of threats to their security,’ he noted.
‘As an agency that is also involved in investigation and intelligence-gathering, we understand how serious this case is since this involves the safety of the concerned individuals,’ he added.