THE Anti-Cybercrime Office-10 reported 158 cybercrime-related incidents in Cagayan de Oro, but only 24 cases have been officially filed and pursued, a regional official told the city council last Saturday.
Lieutenant Colonel Kacan Ali, regional chief of the Anti-Cybercrime Office-10, cited limited resources and lengthy legal procedures as key challenges in handling cybercrime cases.
The office operates with only three cybercrime teams covering Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Camiguin, which he said slows response time and case processing.
“Mga basic po kung pano nila i-aassess. Pano yong gawin nila, yung (preservation) of evidence,” said Ali.
Ali noted that while 80 personnel in the region have undergone basic cybercrime training, many complainants choose to record incidents in a police blotter rather than pursue legal action due to the lengthy filing process.
“Sa pagakakaron ang tawo, wala pa gyud sila kasabot sa sistema ug proseso sa pag file sa cyber crime nga kaso,” said City Councilor James Judith, who believes the cumbersome process discourages victims from seeking justice.
Judith proposed decentralizing cybercrime case filings, allowing local police stations to handle initial complaints before forwarding them to the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (Racu) for further evaluation.
He argued that this approach would streamline the process and prevent Racu from being overwhelmed with cases.
The councilor, who previously assisted Racu in developing case filing formats, said he plans to meet with Ali to discuss possible procedural reforms.
