The country is among the most vulnerable to online threats, many of them from China. To fight back, the army is recruiting IT professionals.
  • Cyber attacks hurt government, academic, and business establishments.
  • The Philippine Army is recruiting civilians to help stem cyber threats.
  • Young techies appreciate the opportunity to work for the country, despite lower pay.

Earlier this year, the Philippine Army put out an unusual call on Facebook, inviting civilian hackers to join its cybersecurity unit. “We have a greater enemy that wants to devour us. Do we want to let them?” Joey Fontiveros, founding commander of the Cyber Battalion, said in a Facebook Reel that has been viewed over 2 million times. “Why not join us?”