THE Philippine National Police’s 7th digital forensic laboratory boasting of P3-million worth of state-of-the-art equipment donated by the United States government has been opened by the PNP Anti-Cyber Crime Group in Cagayan De Oro City.

PNP-ACG director Senior Supt. Gilbert C. Sosa said the new laboratory equipped with the latest computer forensic hardware and software donated by the U.S. Department of State-Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program will help them improve their capabilities in investigating internet-related crimes in Eastern Mindanao.

Competent Digital Forensic Investigators and Examiners manning the PNP-ACG’s state-of-the-art Digital Forensic laboratories are tasked to investigate cybercrimes including violation of Republic Act 8792 or the E-Commerce Act.

In particular, they investigate cases of “hacking or crackling” which refers to unauthorized access into or interference in a computer system/server or information and communication system; or any access in order to corrupt, alter, steal, or destroy using a computer or other similar information and communication devices, without the knowledge and consent of the owner of the computer or information and communications system, including the introduction of computer viruses and the like, resulting in the corruption, destruction, alteration, theft or loss of electronic data messages or electronic documents.