Philippines probes suspected copying of migrant worker database files
Philippine authorities are investigating a suspected data breach involving roughly 68GB of backups linked to government systems used by overseas Filipino workers.
The National Privacy Commission confirmed it is coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers after cybersecurity researchers reported evidence that 27 database backup files had been copied.
Hunt.io said the copying was recorded on a publicly accessible server hosted in Singapore, with transfer logs showing the files were copied on September 6, 2026, in 23 minutes and 46 seconds. The files carried names linked to former POEA services, overseas worker databases and the Balik-Manggagawa system used by returning workers. The researchers did not examine the contents and could not establish how access was gained.
The privacy regulator said it is examining whether the Data Privacy Act of 2012 was breached and is working with the department on possible privacy concerns. The department has not publicly confirmed the full extent of the suspected breach, and the regulator has not said how many people may be affected.