San jose de buenavista: The Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) is set to open a cybercrime desk aimed at streamlining the process for locals to report cybercrime incidents without needing to travel outside the province. This initiative is designed to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of handling cybercrime complaints within Antique.

According to Philippines News Agency, APPO Director Col. Lea Rose Pe±a announced that the cybercrime desk is expected to be operational by the first week of September. During the third quarter meeting of the Provincial Joint Anti-Bank Robbery and Cybercrime Coordinating Committee (JABRACCC), Pe±a emphasized that this development will allow residents to file complaints directly in Antique, eliminating the need to visit the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 (RACU6) in Iloilo City.

Despite no cybercrime complaints being filed in Antique during the second quarter, Pe±a underscored the importance of addressing crimes occurring in the digital space. In support of this initiative, RACU6 Operation Section Chief Lt. Arthvic Velasquez highlighted that cyber financial crimes remain prevalent, though there was a 25 percent decline in cybercrime cases from 76 in 2024 to 57 in the second quarter of 2025.

Lt. Velasquez reported that the total monetary value involved in these crimes reached PHP2,594,562.00, often involving victims of various scams such as investment and job scams, online lending, and phishing-related frauds. A notable success for the RACU6 was the arrest of a 27-year-old male in Iloilo City for violating Republic Act 11934, the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.