A militant solon is urging the House of Representatives to conduct its own investigation on the reported data breach attack against Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said it alarming that PhilHealth was affected by the ransomware attack.

Following the admission of PhilHealth of a serious data breach, the government must exert effort to solve the Medusa ransomware attack.

“It is alarming that Philhealth only confirmed the leak of personal information of Philhealth contributors weeks after the Medusa ransomware attack on Sept. 22. This should prompt an urgent independent investigation by the House to put concerned agencies to task and to identify the perpetrators of the data breach,” Brosas said.

“Yung mga personal information na nakuha ng hackers, pwedeng gamitin para magsagawa pa ng ibang krimen laban sa Philhealth members tulad ng identity theft. That’s why it is baffling for Philhealth to downplay concerns at the onset of the cyber attack,” she added.

According to Philhealth, personal information of members such as name, address, birth date, phone number and Philhealth ID number were stolen by the Medusa ransomware group.

The lady solon stressed that the implications of this cyber attack might be worse in magnitude, considering the belated admission of Philhealth and the pendency of investigations of concerned agencies such as the National Privacy Commission.

The Gabriela Women’s Party lawmaker said the House committee on information and communications technology can conduct an urgent motu proprio investigation on the Medusa ransomware group attack during the congressional break.

Brosas is also asking the National Privacy Commission to furnish the Lower House a copy of its findings over the cyber attack.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas