The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said cyber threats from China-linked actors are intensifying in 2026 amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
AFP Cyber Command chief Brig. Gen. Joey Fontiveros reported at a Stratbase forum that the country continues to face persistent attacks connected to territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
He said the cybersecurity landscape this year is marked by escalating threats driven by geopolitical tensions, rapid digital transformation, and a sophisticated adversary environment, particularly from state-sponsored actors.
Chinese-linked hackers have reportedly used malware, distributed denial-of-service attacks, data leaks, and website compromises against Philippine government systems and critical infrastructure.
Fontiveros added that these threats form part of a broader global risk profile, where misinformation, disinformation, and cyber insecurity are among the most pressing concerns.
Public administration accounts for over 20 percent of dark web threats, followed by education at nearly 15 percent, and finance and insurance at 10 percent. Ransomware, phishing, and illicit access sales are the most common tactics, he said.
While no major breaches of intelligence data have been confirmed, vulnerabilities remain in key sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and power systems. Government initiatives under the National Cyber Security Plan aim to strengthen defenses, build capacity, and close skills gaps.
Fontiveros emphasized the need for proactive strategies, including AI-powered threat detection and multilateral cooperation, to counter hybrid threats in a digitally interconnected region.
