No sign yet that stolen passport data were used illegally —NPC

     The National Privacy Commission (NPC) will meet with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials within the day to kickstart its investigation into the passport data breach that was bared recently by DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

This, even as NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro said they have so far monitored no sign that the stolen information was used in illegal means.

"Karaniwan kapag ang data ay napunta sa masasamang kamay, karaniwan iyang nailalabas na agad, naibebenta 'yan o kaya may palantandaan na nagamit sa mali. Mabilis malaman 'yan," he said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Dito, tinitignan natin kung meron na bang nai-report o nakita tayo sa dark web na meron na pong nakalutang na datos na galing sa database. Tila wala naman po kaming nakikitang ganon," Liboro added as he appealed for calm amid the controversy.

The NPC official also said they will meet with officials from the private contractor accused of running away with the data as well as from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

He said they expect to have a clearer picture of the controversy by the end of the week.

"Lahat ito ay mabibigyan ng liwanag this week," Liboro said. "Ipapatawag din po namin ang contractor na nabanggit at Bangko Sentral para malaman natin 'yung lahat ng facts tungkol dito."

He stressed that the NPC will do everything it can to look into the circumstances surrounding the data breach that has caused widespread concern among citizens.

"Pipilitin nating masagot itong circumstances na bumabalot dito," Liboro said.

The alleged passport data breach was bared by Locsin on Twitter last week, saying it happened after a terminated outsourced passport maker "took all" applicants' personal information