Experts Convene in Manila to Fortify Cybersecurity and Counter Foreign Interference

MANILA, Philippines — February 2026 — As the Indo-Pacific confronts an increasingly volatile digital security environment, the Stratbase Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, will convene top government, defense, cybersecurity, and civil society leaders for a high-level conference titled “Navigating Digital Crossroads: Advancing Cybersecurity and Democratic Resilience in the Indo-Pacific.”

The two-day forum, to be held on February 19–20, 2026 at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City, comes at a pivotal moment when cyber intrusions, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), and hybrid warfare tactics are escalating across the region.

The conference aims to move the conversation beyond reactive defense — toward building a coordinated, cross-sector “collective shield” that protects democratic institutions, critical infrastructure, and electoral integrity.

Among those attending are Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson; Department of Information & Communications Technology Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda; Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres Manhit; and Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman.

They will be joined by senior officials from the National Security Council, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard, and Canadian cybersecurity and rapid response experts — underscoring the strategic and international importance of the dialogue.

Day 1 of the conference will focus on assessing the evolving cybersecurity landscape, strengthening governance and cross-sector resilience, and examining how emerging technologies are being weaponized in hybrid warfare strategies. Discussions will also address patterns of cyber espionage targeting governments, businesses, and critical infrastructure.

Day 2 will center on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) operations in the Philippines — including their potential implications for the 2028 national elections. Panels will examine the actors, methods, and digital channels used in influence operations, while identifying mechanisms for regional cooperation and media transparency to safeguard the integrity of the information ecosystem.

“Cybersecurity is no longer merely a technical concern — it is a national security and democratic stability issue,” said Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres Manhit. “In an era where disinformation campaigns can undermine public trust and digital attacks can disrupt essential services, strengthening institutional coordination and international partnerships has become a strategic imperative.”

By bringing together policymakers, defense officials, cyber practitioners, and media leaders, the conference aims to generate actionable policy insights and reinforce democratic resilience across the Indo-Pacific, Manhit added.