Insider Spotlight
Jen Capones-Tongco, CEO of cybersecurity firm Netrust Philippines, says leadership must step up as criminals deploy AI to automate reconnaissance, generate deepfake scams, and launch adaptive attacks that evolve in real time.
Why it matters
AI-enabled cyberattacks are no longer limited to corporate breaches. They are increasingly targeting everyday Filipinos, including overseas workers and elderly citizens, with scams designed to drain savings and erode trust in digital systems.
Netrust is positioning itself at the center of the response through a national advocacy campaign called Cyber Resilient Pilipinas for Every Juan in the World.
“I say every Juan in the world because there is a Filipino everywhere and each one deserves to feel safe in the digital world,” she said in a statement to InsiderPH.
The bigger picture
Threat actors are now using AI tools to craft convincing impersonations, including deepfake videos of public figures used to promote fraudulent investments.
One example involved deepfake content impersonating business leader Ramon Ang to lure victims into fake investment schemes, highlighting how easily the public can be misled by AI-generated media.
Capones-Tongco warns that cybersecurity should be treated as a national responsibility rather than a purely corporate concern.
“When attackers break through, organizations lose but Filipino families lose even more,” she said.
“OFWs are especially close to my heart because I spent most of my career in Hong Kong and Singapore. I know the sacrifices they make and how vulnerable they can be to cleverly engineered scams. Leaders must treat cybersecurity as a national responsibility because the consequences reach far beyond corporate boundaries.”
What Netrust is doing
The firm works with CEOs, CISOs, and corporate boards to strengthen digital resilience, offering services ranging from vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to security operations center development and governance support.
As one of the few Philippine systems integrators focused purely on cybersecurity, Netrust delivers end-to-end protection across the entire security lifecycle.
Capones-Tongco has also mobilized a global cybersecurity awareness campaign involving leaders from Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.
The bottom line
Capones-Tongco believes cybersecurity leadership must move beyond compliance toward cultural vigilance as AI-enabled threats continue to accelerate.
“Cyber resilience is not just a corporate objective. It is a responsibility we owe to Filipino families everywhere,” she said. — Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
