MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has launched an investigation into reports of a possible cybersecurity breach following claims of a data leak circulating online.
In a statement Monday, November 9, the BIR said it was coordinating with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (DICT-NCERT) to assess the reported incident.
“Immediate response measures have been implemented to assess the situation and protect the security and integrity of its systems and taxpayer data,” the BIR said.
The agency said it had taken precautionary steps to safeguard its digital infrastructure and sensitive taxpayer information while authorities examine the allegations.
“The BIR remains committed to strengthen its cybersecurity posture,” it added.
The bureau also urged taxpayers to remain vigilant against potential online threats and conduct all tax-related transactions exclusively through its official websites, platforms and authorized communication channels.
The BIR has yet to confirm whether its systems were compromised or whether taxpayer information was exposed.
It assured the public that additional updates would be released as soon as verified information becomes available.
