SENATE President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said military officials and defense scholars play a crucial role in fighting cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns on the West Philippine Sea.
The senator stressed this before newly promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during an event hosted by the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) Alumni Association, Inc.
Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, said the Philippines has to deal with maritime confrontations in the WPS and other concerns such as cybersecurity threats.
“Other equally distressing concerns persist. These include cybersecurity threats, which expose the country to cyber-attacks that can disrupt critical services and compromise sensitive data,” Estrada said in his speech.
He cited the study of NDCP Research Officer II Christine Lisette Castillo, which stated that pursuit of sovereign rights requires “all instruments of national power, including cyber capabilities.”
“In her paper, Castillo said the growing tension between the Philippines and China is reflected in cyberspace, where cyber espionage, cyber attacks, and malign information operations are widespread,'” he said.
“‘Certainly, cybersecurity has long been a part of national security, and its importance in relation to the West Philippine Sea has been established.’ I couldn’t agree more,” Estrada added.
The senator lauded the NDCP for playing “a pivotal role in the training of leaders responsible for safeguarding our nation’s security.”
He said the NDCP “greatly contributes to national defense and security not only through its education and research initiatives, but also through active policy advocacy and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.”
Be the first to comment