The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) is calling for tougher action against insider cybercrime, warning that fraudulent acts committed by a small number of employees could damage the country’s reputation as one of the world’s leading outsourcing destinations.
IBPAP Chief Operating Officer Celeste Ilagan said isolated cases of insider fraud pose a disproportionate risk to an industry that employs about 1.9 million Filipinos and serves some of the world’s largest financial institutions and multinational companies.
“It’s not just the reputation of the individual IT-BPM company that’s at stake. It is the reputation of the Philippines as a location for this kind of service,” Ilagan said.
She cited incidents in which employees with access to customers’ financial accounts allegedly misused credit card information, noting that such cases could erode client confidence despite involving only a handful of workers.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, IBPAP said it is intensifying collaboration with the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and international law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to improve investigations and strengthen prosecution of cybercrime cases.
The industry group is also advocating amendments to the Cybercrime Prevention Act to better address evolving digital threats while preserving the country’s competitiveness in the global IT-BPM market.
Under a new partnership, IBPAP and the NBI will establish closer coordination with member companies to speed up fraud reporting, facilitate evidence sharing and streamline the filing and processing of complaints.
Subject to applicable laws and due process, records of cybercrime cases may also be reflected in an individual’s NBI clearance, a move aimed at discouraging repeat offenders from transferring between employers while criminal proceedings are pending.
The outsourcing industry has long relied on the Philippines’ reputation for talent, reliability and trust. As artificial intelligence and digital services reshape the sector, IBPAP said safeguarding data security and client confidence is becoming just as important as maintaining a skilled workforce, making cyber resilience a competitive advantage rather than simply a compliance requirement.
