CICC Flags 9 Individuals, Groups Over Alleged SONA Disruption Plots

MANILA, Philippines — The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) flagged nine individuals and groups allegedly linked to online efforts to disrupt President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), officials said Wednesday. CICC Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso said the agency placed its cyber monitoring operations on 24/7 status from Friday night until after the address. This is to monitor any suspicious online activities and to prevent any untoward incidents that may happen during the SONA. He added that they are monitoring the situation and coordinating with other agencies. “We are monitoring the situation and coordinating with other agencies,” Paraiso said. The CICC is responsible for coordinating and integrating government policies and programs for the prevention and control of cybercrime in the country. The SONA is an annual address by the Philippine president to a joint session of Congress, typically delivered on the fourth Monday of July. It is a platform for the president to report on the state of the nation and to propose legislative measures. Previous SONAs have been marked by protests and demonstrations from various sectors of society, expressing their grievances and demands to the government. However, the CICC’s move to flag individuals and groups ahead of the event raises concerns about potential overreach and suppression of dissent. While the CICC’s mandate is to combat cybercrime, critics argue that such actions could stifle legitimate online activism and freedom of speech. As the country approaches the SONA, the CICC’s intensified cyber monitoring and flagging of individuals and groups will likely be closely watched, with a focus on whether it strikes a balance between national security and civil liberties.