HABAMBUHAY na pagkabilanggo ang kahaharapin ng cybercriminals na sangkot sa pagha-hack sa deposit accounts ng mga kliyente ng Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc.

Babala ni Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor sa mga cybercriminal, mahaharap sila sa kasong economic sabotage na may parusang habambuhay na pagkakulong bukod sa P5 million multa.

“The act of breaking into a bank’s computer system and stealing money from more than 50 deposit accounts constitutes economic sabotage. Under the law, the offense is punishable with life in prison plus a fine of up to P5 million,” paliwanag ni Defensor.

Tinukoy ng mambabatas ang Republic Act No. 11449 o ang inamyendahang “Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 kung saan pinabigat ang “unlawful use of electronic access devices such as cards, codes, personal identification numbers (PINs), usernames, and passwords, among others”.

Magugunita na sinabi ng Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) na mayroon na silang 6 persons of interest sa hacking activities sa account ng may 7000 depositors ng BDO.

Nadiskubre ang hacking matapos mailipat ang pera ng mga nasabing depositor sa account ng isang “Mark Nagoyo” sa UBP.

Kasabay nito, umapela si Defensor sa mga bangko na panatilihin ang kanilang high alert laban sa hackers lalo na kapag weekends at holidays kung kailan umaatake ang mga cybercriminal.

“We already know that most cyberattacks on banks happen on weekends and holidays, so the practical solution is for them to heighten their vigilance on these slow days,” ayon sa mambabatas.

Hindi umano ito ang unang insidente ng bank hacking dahil noong 2016, umaabot sa $101 million ang ninakaw sa Bangladesh Bank at inilipat ang may $81 million nito sa 5 pekeng deposit account ng Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC).

“We also want banks to put an end to their practice of going on slow mode when it comes to providing customer support on weekends and holidays. Banks must respond instantly to customer complaints of potential hacking of their bank or credit card accounts 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” dagdag pa ng mambabatas. (BERNARD TAGUINOD)