BPI leads charge vs cybercrime with regional training program

CEBU, Philippines — The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) rolled out the first regional edition of its flagship cybersecurity capacity-building program in Cebu City, pushing the lender’s push to strengthen frontline defenses against financial cybercrime across the country.

BPI’s CyberAcademy 2025: Strengthening Cyber Capacity for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors was held Nov. 27–28 and co-organized with the Philippine National Police Region 7, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, and the Department of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime.

The two-day session convened more than 70 police investigators and prosecutors across Central Visayas.

“When we launched BPI’s CyberAcademy, we envisioned a stronger, more coordinated frontline against cybercrime. Bringing the program to Cebu reflects the region’s growing importance in the country’s digital landscape,” said Elena Torrijos, BPI’s head of public affairs and communications.

The initiative comes as Philippine banks and regulators face a surge in online fraud, phishing incidents, and cyber-enabled scams targeting consumers. Strengthening investigative capacity in the regions has become a priority amid rising digital adoption and payments growth.

Col. Jay Guillermo of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group’s Regional Unit 7 said the program gave police and prosecutors a much-needed platform to build rapport and streamline coordination—an essential element in responding to increasingly sophisticated online threats.

Launched in 2023 in partnership with the DOJ Office of Cybercrime, BPI’s CyberAcademy is among the first private-sector programs designed to deepen the technical capabilities of law enforcement and prosecutors.

The Ayala-led bank said the initiative aims to create a more unified, proactive defense against financial cybercrime as digital transactions accelerate nationwide.