Pro-labour advocacy organization pushes for immediate response towards surge in digital fraud cases.
Rewritten Article:
Trabaho Partylist, with the number 106 on the ballot, has issued an urgent call to action for government bodies, banks, tech firms, and other businesses to band together and safeguard workers' earnings from relentless cyber attacks.
In 2024, the Philippines ranked second globally in digital fraud rate, according to TransUnion's Omnichannel Fraud Report, with a staggering 13.4% rate compared to a global average of 5.4%. The causes of these cyber crimes were determined to be phishing scams, account thefts, and identity thefts, which took a toll on ordinary working Filipinos.
Atty. Mitchell-David L. Espiritu, the Trabaho Partylist spokesperson, expressed his deep concern over the devastating impact of these digital threats on hardworking Filipinos.
"Workers toil day in and day out, often facing rough conditions, only to have their well-earned income vanish at the hands of cyber crooks. This is absolutely unacceptable," said Espiritu.
Worse still, victims were tricked into performing online tasks and persuaded to deposit substantial sums of money before realizing they had become victims of fraud.
To combat this problem, Trabaho Partylist proposes collaboration between the government and private sector, particularly financial institutions, to launch everyday literacy programs through text messages, free TV commercials, and community seminars.
The aim of these programs would be to teach users how to spot phishing schemes and shady websites, educate workers on secure online banking, and promote strong password habits and multi-factor authentication.
"We acknowledge the efforts being made to spread awareness, such as banks sending email alerts, but in light of the increasing instances of digital fraud, more action is needed to safeguard workers' hard-earned wages," Espiritu pointed out.
Aside from that, Trabaho Partylist has called for a congressional investigation to pinpoint legislative measures that can bridge the current gaps in cybersecurity awareness and protection.
Meanwhile, ahead of the elections, Caloocan First District Representative Oscar "Oca" Malapitan publicly endorsed Trabaho Partylist. During Team Aksyon at Malasakit's Grand Rally held on Malolos Street, North Diversion Road, Bagong Barrio, the representative raised Trabaho Partylist's nominee.
Malapitan declared Trabaho Partylist as part of their slate, Team Aksyon at Malasakit, stating, "Let's support Trabaho Partylist for the partylist position." The representative also mentioned that if Trabaho Partylist wins, the City of Caloocan will have two representatives in the House of Representatives.
In an earlier event on April 25, 2025, Mayor Dale Gonzalo "Along" Malapitan voiced his support for the group, referring to Trabaho Partylist as "our partylist." Lawyer Johanne Bautista, the Trabaho Partylist nominee, expressed her appreciation for the backing from Team Aksyon at Malasakit, including the endorsements from the Malapitans.
Bautista pledged that Trabaho Partylist would work in harmony with Team Aksyon and Malasakit for improved public services in the city, particularly in creating sustainable jobs and livelihood opportunities. The group also vowed to prioritize inclusivity for women, senior citizens, disabled individuals, and minority groups such as the LGBTQIA+ community.
On Saturday, Trabaho Partylist declared its intent to uphold the freedom of the press and the right of people to question, speak out, and educate, especially during the election period. PR
Improving cybersecurity and reducing digital fraud in the Philippines demands a joint effort from the government, businesses, and citizens. Strategies include employing advanced security protocols, educating the public, fostering collaboration, enhancing consumer protection, and creating sector-specific solutions. Businesses should offer regular cybersecurity training for employees and develop effective incident response plans. Public-private partnerships and community engagement are also essential for raising awareness and promoting cybersecurity education.
- The Trabaho Partylist, with a ballot number of 106, has demanded action from the government, banks, tech companies, and businesses to protect workers' earnings from cyber attacks, particularly amid the Philippines' high digital fraud rate.
- In 2024, the Philippines ranked second globally in digital fraud rate, with a rate of 13.4%, as per TransUnion's Omnichannel Fraud Report, and among the causes of these cyber crimes were phishing scams, account thefts, and identity thefts.
- Atty. Mitchell-David L. Espiritu, the Trabaho Partylist spokesperson, has expressed deep concern over the impact of these digital threats on hardworking Filipinos, stating that workers, who often face tough conditions, should not lose their hard-earned income to cyber crooks.
- To combat this problem, Trabaho Partylist proposes collaboration between the government and private sector, with a focus on financial institutions, to launch public literacy programs that educate users on phishing schemes, secure online banking, password habits, and multi-factor authentication.
- Trabaho Partylist has also called for a congressional investigation to identify legislative measures that can address gaps in cybersecurity awareness and protection, and has garnered endorsements from political figures, including Caloocan First District Representative Oscar "Oca" Malapitan.
- As the elections approach, Trabaho Partylist has emphasized its commitment to upholding the freedom of the press, people's right to question, speak out, and educate, especially during the election period, and working towards inclusivity for diverse groups, including women, senior citizens, disabled individuals, and minority groups like the LGBTQIA+ community.
