BIR probes alleged data leak, partners with DICT, authorities

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) confirmed Saturday that it is investigating reports of an alleged data leak involving agency information, and has partnered with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and law enforcement units to address the matter.

In an official advisory, the BIR stated it is coordinating closely with the DICT’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), as well as the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, to look into the incident reported to have occurred on Friday, November 7.

The bureau emphasized that the probe is being treated with “utmost urgency and priority,” though it has not yet released details on the scope of the data or the specific types of information that may have been involved.

The reported leak comes just two months after a separate cybersecurity incident, when the BIR website experienced what officials described as a “brief defacement” on September 8. At that time, technical teams from both the BIR and DICT were able to restore services quickly, and initial assessments confirmed that taxpayer information and core systems remained unaffected. Additional security checks were then carried out as a precaution, and the bureau has noted that it is further strengthening protective measures in response to the latest reports.

The development follows a string of recent cybersecurity incidents across government and private institutions. Just over a week ago, St. Luke’s Medical Center disclosed a breach affecting approximately 100,000 individuals through its mobile application, prompting an investigation by the National Privacy Commission.

In June, the House of Representatives website was reportedly hacked and defaced — an event that led the National Bureau of Investigation to identify persons of interest behind the targeting of several government portals. The BIR has assured the public that updates will be provided as the investigation progresses, and urged taxpayers to remain vigilant while authorities work to establish the facts.