Social Security System (SSS) president and CEO Robert Joseph Montes de Claro has reportedly taken his oath as the new secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), replacing Henry Aguda.
The firing of two senior Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) officials by Malacañang in August 2026 over alleged violations of government bidding rules may have marked the beginning of the end for secretary Henry Aguda, whose departure from the Marcos administration followed a series of controversies involving the agency.
DICT secretary Henry Aguda’s exclusion from Pres. Marcos’ Singapore state visit, where Finance chief Frederick Go led talks with AWS, appears to have foreshadowed his reported resignation, which Ombudsman Boying Remulla has all but confirmed.
Former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) assistant secretary Allan Cabanlong has questioned secretary Henry Aguda’s claim that the Philippines ranks first or second in Southeast Asia in areas including artificial intelligence policy, governance, skills and capability.
Five technology professionals and digital rights advocates have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to invalidate the government’s nationwide blocking of Discord and prohibit similar restrictions on websites and social networking platforms, arguing that the agencies involved acted beyond their authority.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed on Friday, Oct. 2, that a website under development was defaced, prompting an assessment of the unauthorized access and a review of its security controls before deployment.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Friday, Sept. 25, that it is investigating a possible exposure of 410 files associated with 48 companies in its Trusted Assessment Provider (D-TAP) accreditation program.
Former CHEd chairperson Prospero “Popoy” De Vera and PIDS senior research fellow Jose Ramon Albert have criticized the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) over their decision to block Discord and lift the restriction shortly afterward.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has invoked the “parens patriae” doctrine, or the State’s role as protector of its citizens, in defending the government’s decision to block Discord in the Philippines, even as authorities lifted the restriction shortly after it was imposed.
Reports that Discord had become inaccessible on some Philippine networks drew criticism from users and technology advocates, who questioned the effect on legitimate online communities and the legal basis for blocking the platform.
