BREAKING EXCLUSIVE | Usec. Aboy recruits former NICA deputy chief Ace Acedillo to CICC

• Courtesy of National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Deputy Director General Francisco Ashley L. “Ace” Acedillo

Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso has recruited former National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Deputy Director General Francisco Ashley L. “Ace” Acedillo to join the CICC, according to a reliable source.

The move could give the CICC a major boost in cybersecurity, intelligence and cybercrime investigation at a time when the government is facing growing criticism over its handling of recent cyberattacks against government websites.

Acedillo previously served as NICA Deputy Director General for Cyber and Emerging Threats, giving him extensive experience in intelligence, cybersecurity and national security. He also previously handled cybersecurity strategy and innovation at PLDT-Smart and served as a member of the House of Representatives.

A former Philippine Air Force officer and Philippine Military Academy graduate, Acedillo has spent much of his career working across defense, national security, technology and public policy. During his stint in Congress, he was also involved in legislation that eventually led to the creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

His possible entry comes as members of the technology and cybersecurity community question whether government agencies have become too reactive to cybersecurity incidents, acting aggressively only after websites are breached, defaced or systems are compromised.

Acedillo himself recently raised the same issue.

In a September 8 commentary published by VERA Files titled “DICT, Hello? Anybody Home?”, Acedillo criticized what he described as a largely reactive cybersecurity posture and called for stronger monitoring, faster detection and a more proactive national cyber defense strategy.

He also pushed for stronger institutional capability to protect the country’s critical information infrastructure and respond to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

The source did not disclose what position Acedillo would assume at the CICC or when he would formally come on board.

If finalized, the recruitment would bring into the CICC a veteran intelligence and cybersecurity practitioner at a critical time for the agency, as Paraiso faces the challenge of strengthening both its cybercrime investigation capabilities and its response to growing cybersecurity threats.