BYBilly Begas
House Committee on Transportation chairperson and Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop is not convinced that the possibility that a cyber attack caused the air traffic shutdown last January 1 should be ruled out.
During Wednesday’s briefing, Acop said in the January 10 briefing transportation and aviation officials have already ruled that the possibility of a cyber attack is “remote”.
In questioning resource persons, Acop noted that the log of the system has not been reviewed thoroughly.
“Pero kung titignan po natin, dahil hindi nae-examine ‘yung data, or ‘yung logs, hindi natin masasabi na kuwan — it was subjected to cyber attack. And you could just imagine…nakikita ko na yung defense system at maintenance system ng ating critical equipment ay mahina,” Acop said.
Acop expressed concern about the possibility that terrorists could manipulate the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
“You could just imagine, if your theory is right, they can breach into the core of the CNS/ATM system. You could just imagine the chaos…the chaos that would ensue,” Acop said.
“If this can be in the hands of terrorists, guguluhin lang niya ang Pilipinas, pagbabanggain niya ‘yung dalawang eroplano sa ere or pagka-crashin niya. And you could just imagine the damage that it would do to our country,” Acop added.
During the hearing, Harry Nuske of Thales said the contract of his company with CAAP has expired in 2020. Since then, he said Thales has not provided any update on the software of CAAP’s air traffic system.
