AMID the full support being extended to them by the Philippine National Police leadership headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group headed by Brigadier Gen. Joel B. Doria has vowed to accomplish more in their fight against online criminals taking advantage of the cyberspace to attack their preys.

“We are really beefing-up our anti-cybercrime campaign with the strengthening of our manpower, equipment, training and mobility,” said Brig. Gen. Doria as Gen. Azurin last week led the blessing and inauguration of a state-of-the-art building of the PNP-ACG which will be the new home of the cybercops fighting high-tech criminals here and abroad.

The top cybercop welcomed the support being given to them by the PNP leadership as they fight cybercriminals in the country. He said that their new modern building will make them more comfortable as they crack down on increasing cybercrimes in the country including identity theft, sextortion and other online scams.

There has been an increasing trend in cybercrimes in the country amid the PNP-ACG’s all-out effort to accomplish their job despite their limited capabilities.

Over the past several weeks, PNP-ACG agents have jailed a number of scammers who have used verified GCash Accounts they bought from other people.

Brig. Gen. Doria has warned the public to be wary of the modus operandi of scammers to buy Verified GCash Accounts in Facebook Market Place and use them to victimize people. He said that once used in scams, the registered owner of the digital wallets will find themselves in hot water too.

There is also a growing number of people engaged in so-called ‘sextortion’ being arrested by the PNP-ACG in entrapment operations. In most cases, these sex fiends will threaten to spread the naked or lewd photos or videos of women and even young girls in the social media if the victims won’t have sex with them.

This has prompted Brig. Gen. Doria to remind everyone to be cautious in sharing personal and intimate photos and videos of themselves which might be used against them by some unscrupulous individuals with bad intentions.

On Wednesday last week, Gen. Azurin led the blessing and inauguration of the state-of-the-art ACG building at Camp Crame which will be the new home of the cybercops fighting high-tech criminals here and abroad.

“We laud the past and present leadership of the PNP-ACG for embarking on changes and innovations geared towards leading the group to greater height including the construction of this cutting-edge building that boasts a resilient and robust cybercrime response which is set to be the home of our Cybercops,” said the PNP chief.

The new PNP-ACG building is the 2nd Camp Crame facility to be equipped with an elevator as the police force continue to embark on a massive modernization program to fight cybercriminals including sex fiends attacking women and young children via the social media.

Gen. Azurin said the modern facility which is considered at part with the PNP-ACT counterparts abroad will be very crucial to the requirements of the cybercops as they need to keep pace with the ever-changing peace and security environment and on responding to cyber-security threats, computer-related crime and other content-related offenses,

Doria described the inauguration of their new building as the biggest milestone in the unit’s history as “it is the realization of their long-held dream of moving into a headquarters that is modern, more conducive for work and productivity, and more advantageous to the needs of both our personnel and clientele.”

The official said that the five-storey PNP-ACG building which is a place they really can call their own was really ‘a shoot for the moon’ proposal made way back in 2016.

Since its activation in 2013, the PNP ACG has been occupying the former PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management-run PNP Detective School building located beside the main PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office.

“For most part, the facilities were only improvised. And over the years, the makeshift PNP ACG headquarters could no longer accommodate our growing administrative and operational requirements. Not even a couple of renovations could cure the impediment of occupying a space that is not sufficient for the unit,” Brig. Gen. Doria said.

According to him, such situation compelled both the past and present PNP-ACG leaderships to strive for an office building that suits the requirements of their workforce and changing operational demands.

It was in 2016 when the PNP ACG first sought the availability of the open space between the PNP Logistics Support Service warehouse and Camp Crame perimeter fence along EDSA which however was found to have already been given to the PNP EOD-K9 Group for their canine kennel facility in 2015.

However, the corrected version of the plan for the proposed infrastructure project was made by the PNP Engineering Service in November 2016.

The new plan provided the PNP-ACG with an 844 square-meter space for its new building.

In January 2017, the proposed lots to include that for the PNP- ACG were subsequently approved by the PNP leadership.

“There may have been delays in the process but our proposal ultimately gained traction in September 2019 through the secured, mobile, artificial intelligence-driven, real-time technology (S.M.A.R.T.) policing project. In August 2020, the blueprint was officially put into work through a groundbreaking ceremony,” he added.

Brig. Gen. Doria said the onslaught of the COVID-19 also challenged and impacted the then ongoing construction of the new PNP-ACG building.

“While the situation made us think that there was still so much to build, the perseverance and commitment of the men and women of the PNP ACG, the PNP leadership, and our partners, kept us grounded to the idea that there was so much to gain as well,” he added.

Doria said the project is a testament of the universality of the Peace and Security Framework of Gen. Azurin: the Malasakit, Kaayusan, at Kapayapaan Tungo sa Kaunlaran.

“Malasakit,” he said represents the collective will of the commanders of the PNP-ACG, past and present, to provide nothing less for the men and women who serve under them and the people they serve.

“No longer will our personnel need to endure the rain and intense heat. No longer will our walk-in clients have to wait under a tent or bear inclement weather. Let this new building represent the world-class service that the PNP has to offer,” he said. Gen. Azurin congratulated Brig. Gen. Doria and his predecessors for their effort to protect our cyberspace despite a number of challenges.

Before Brig. Gen. Doria, other officials who commanded the PNP-ACG include former PNP chief, now retired Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, retired Police 3-Star General Marni C. Marcos Jr., retired 2-Star Generals Gilbert T. Sosa and Arnel B. Escobal, Major Gen. Robert T. Rodriguez, now the PNP Director for Personnel and Records Management and Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey M. Masauding, now the PNP Finance Service director.